Chapter Text
Adaine considered herself very brave.
She was brave for fighting her sister just an hour ago. She was brave for standing up to the Harvest Men and everything else her and her friends had faced. She was brave for dealing with panic attacks her entire life even though there was never anyone there to help her. And she had certainly been brave defying her parents to get Aelwyn arrested.
And so, as she, Fabian, and Riz walked out of the Abernant manor with further evidence Adaine felt brave enough to ignore Riz’s suggesting of sneaking out back and confronted her parents straight on.
Her mother looked upset, mouth thin line, brow furrowed, like she was debating something over in her mind and she didn’t like any answer she saw.
Adaine’s father looked furious.
But Adaine did not flinch as he spotted her. She didn’t cringe as he stormed up, leering over her in a way that was guaranteed to make her feel small.
“It was a very brilliant move at the house, Adaine.” He said it through gritted teeth, like he was trying very hard not to explode. But that didn’t stop him from snapping his words, didn’t stop his voice from trembling in rage. “A diplomat’s child cannot be taken into custody. It is an insult to the nation of Fallinal!” He pointed at her, fire burning behind his eyes. “There will be consequences for this. Drastic consequences!”
Adaine let her own anger rise to match his. She was proud of what she had done and would not be apologizing for it. Furthermore, she hated her father more than anything else in the world and let that fuel her as she snapped back at him. “You have treated me like a second class citizen in this house for as long as I can remember!”
She was going to say more, had a whole speech prepared, but was cut off by a crack in the air, her head whipping to the side, and a stinging in her cheek.
“I will not have you speaking to me that way, you ungrateful brat,” her father hissed, “Not now. Not after what you’ve done.”
Emotions warred within Adaine. Her anger, already hot and burning. How dare he. How dare he do such a thing to her! How dare he treat her like this, like he always had. How dare he how dare he how dare he.
Shock was also strong, rooting her in place and locking her muscles. She hadn’t expected this, had never even considered it. For how vile they were and how terribly they treated her, Adaine's parents had never hit her, never struck her, never caused her physical harm. She had assumed they thought themselves above such barbaric forms.
Then there was the fear. The familiar panic creeping into her bones and stealing her breath. Because he had never hit her before. And she had not known it but that had been a line, a comforting barrier that she could emotionally hide behind. Knowing that no matter how upset they became she was never in any physical danger from them.
That was gone now and in the turmoil of emotions the fear won. Because if he was willing to hit her, if that was on the table, then anything was. What would he do to her when they weren’t in public, with her friends watching? Where was the new line, if there even was one?
She knew part of it was the panic attack and the irrational thoughts that accompanied them. But Adaine felt like she knew, with her entire being, that if she ever went back into that house she would be as good as dead.
Turns out she wasn’t as brave as she thought.
***
Fabian wasn’t really a thinking guy.
He liked to think he was, and he tried to be. Tried to pay attention to his friends to get them personal gifts, tried to think through his movements in a fight. But he often got confused when the party talked or rushed ahead without worrying about what he was leaving behind.
Like at this moment, he didn’t even have time to process what he was doing before he was already half-way through the action.
He saw Angwyn hit Adaine, strike her across the face mid sentence, and the next thing he knew he was surging forward and his fist was connecting with the diplomat’s jaw.
Angwyn reeled back, the only thing stopping him from collapsing to the ground was his wife behind him fumblingly catching him in her arms.
Fabian knew that what he had just done was incredibly stupid. Insanely, egregiously stupid. But he had already done it and now there was nothing to do but ride it out. Stand with his decision like his father would.
He stood in front of Adaine, one hand out protectively. Though he didn’t think she really registered him there. Adaine looked completely shell shocked, staring blankly at the ground from where her head had been turned. The only movement a tremble in her shoulders and hands even as tears gently ran down her cheeks.
Out of the corner of his eye Fabian saw Riz rush to her side, taking Adaine’s hand and speaking gently to her. Satisfied with that, Fabian turned his full attention to the enemy in front of him.
Angwyn had regained most of his senses and was pushing his wife off as he stumbled to his feet. He looked absolutely livid as he glared at Fabian, raising his hands.
Fabian drew his sword before the wizard could make another move, thrusting it forward so the tip touched Angwyn’s shirt button. “Don’t! I don’t want to see a glimmer of magic or I will gut you. Do you understand?”
Angwyn sneered but, thankfully, slowly lowered his hands. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing, boy? I am an ambassador. This could start a war. ”
“Then start a war!” Fabian snapped back. He was surprised he could hear himself over how loud his heart was thumping, but he did not let his hand tremble or his face crack.
Angwyn scoffed. “You are a child. You have no idea what you’re doing.” He stepped forward. “Move away from my daughter and stop embarrassing yourself.”
“I am a pirate!” Fabian screamed, shoving his sword forward, ripping the elf’s shirt before Angwyn stumbled a step back. “And you have attacked a member of my crew! You should be feeling incredibly lucky that I haven’t already painted these steps with your blood.”
Behind him, Riz let out a soft, “Whoa.” Fabian did not turn, did not break eye contact with Angwyn. He did not know himself if he was bluffing and he did not want to have to find out.
Thankfully, Angwyn took a step back, still sneering but obviously not going to put up more of a fight. “You’re going to regret this, child. ”
Fabian felt as if there was a lid on his anger that he was just barely keeping down. “Not as much as you will. Riz.”
“Y-yeah?” Riz stuttered behind him, voice filled with emotion that Fabian was not letting himself feel.
“Take Adaine and get on the Hangman. We’re leaving.” Fabian was thankful that Riz didn’t protest. He just gently guided Adaine, who stumbled after him. Fabian made careful, purposeful steps to make sure he was always in between his friends and the Abernants as they circled around to his bike.
For the first time, Adaine’s mother spoke up. “This is kidnapping, you know. Taking Adaine without our consent.” She looked worried, her gaze flicking from her husband, Fabian, and her daughter behind him.
Fabian snorted. “Then I’m kidnapping her. Besides, I care about her consent more than yours.”
He got to his bike and climbed on, never looking away from the Abernants. He didn’t blink even as he felt Adaine wrap her arms around him and bury her face into the crook of his neck.
“Take us home, Hangman.”
He didn’t look away until the Hangman had gotten far enough that the Abernant manor was out of sight.
Only then did he blink away the tears forming in his eyes and let his body shake.