fic: Brick
Nov. 23rd, 2022 09:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bonnefoisTitle: Brick
Series: Fire Emblem: Awakening
Character/pairing: Gaius, Severa (Gaius/Cordelia)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1505
Summary: Unable to keep up with Severa's wishes, Gaius teachers her the family trick to getting just what she wants.
The "five finger special."
Author's note:
Based on Severa's father supports where she constantly begs for stuff. I always thought Gaius would just teach her how to steal.
After the last round, Severa was ready to wash up and go to sleep. This war was hell on her hair. It was all dry, and her skin! Ugh. Self-care was the only thing which helped her feel alive when she already knew what was coming for them. It wasn't like they'd be able to pull this whole scheme off. They'd just have to watch their parents die all over again.
Speaking of parents, here was hers. She still wasn't sure how he and her mom ever made it. How would a thief and a pegasus knight ever fall in love?
He carried candy in his pockets, and Severa knew that things like crumbs on his clothes would drive her mother to distraction.
Never mind that mom always chose Chrom, even when he married her best friend.
"What do you want?" Severa said.
It came out sharper than she meant. Things always did. She was exhausted after a long day and cranky as hell. Gaius didn't even flinch at her remark.
"Hey, Sunshine. Time for some father-daughter bonding time."
"Are you saying that just to get me to work again?"
Severa pushed her red pigtails over her shoulder. With parents like hers, of course she'd be a ginger.
"We're not going to be cleaning out stalls. Trust me."
"Fine, whatever. I'll take my bath later. I just hope this won't take too long."
"Follow me out, and tell no one where we're going," Gaius said.
"What, isn't that like, the number one thing we're supposed to do? Inform everyone where we're going so we don't become Risen food?"
"Not this time. And just one more thing..."
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Chrom about this. And really don't tell your mother about this."
"What is this? Some surprise party? We're at war here, you know."
"Not quite."
And her dad didn't elaborate, no matter how many times she pestered him for answers.
*
It was completely dark by the time they left camp. Her father had gone to a town, though gods knew why. Nothing but the tavern and inn would be open at this hour, and they were the opposite way.
"It's dangerous out this time of night, you know," Severa said.
"No guards around. We should be fine."
Guards? It was the Risen she was worried about. If they met any guards, they'd just say they were on a mission from Chrom. Except, wait, Chrom wasn't supposed to know about this.
Gaius led her down a back alley next to the accessory store. Which was pretty damn overpriced. The bows and baubles had been gorgeous, but the guy sure wasn't giving them away. Not even Severa's attempts could sway him into giving her a little better price.
Severa nearly stepped in a puddle. Blech!
"Father, where exactly are we--"
Gaius softly cut her off.
"Shh. I need to focus for this to work."
They were standing at a door in the middle of the night, probably about to be eaten by some Risen. And for what? The store wasn't even open.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"Just bear with me a little longer, Sunshine," Gaius said.
He pulled out a lockpick which had been stored by the candy at the pockets on his chest.. With a few turns, he managed to spring the lock free and go in the back door.
"Good to know that I'm not rusty. Now, don't trip and make some noise as we go in."
Severa didn't even know what to make of this. Sneaking into a store in the middle of the night?
Sure, her dad was a thief, but he gave that life up a long time ago. Right?
Gaius eased the door open and inclined his head to listen. He hadn't even brought a torch, and the room was entirely dark save for the little bit of light from the door. And even that changed when Gaius closed the door behind them.
"Good. There's no guard dogs. Be careful of dogs. They can ruin an entire operation. You can tame them up beforehand. Give them some meat and they might not bark."
"What is this whole thing anyways? What kind of father-daughter bonding time is this?"
"You wanted some accessories. We're getting you some accessories."
"Oh, that..." Severa blushed and looked away at this admission. "I was being a brat," Severa said.
"Yep."
Severa glowered at him, even though he couldn't see it in the dark. She wondered if this was the part where he would go the minute this war is over, I'll be glad once you're gone.
"Hey, you were supposed to tell me I wasn't and that I was the best daughter."
"I probably wasn't the kind of father you were thinking you'd have. But we're both making do. And it sounds like you had a raw deal in the past. So I'm getting you these accessories one way or another. No way I can afford them on my own. But, I can still do jobs like this for my kid."
"Really, dad?" Severa's voice wavered.
"Yes, but keep it down, or we'll get guards after us. I'm supposed to have left this life behind officially. I'm like a privateer. Using my skills just for Chrom. But, I got a kid to take care of now. And no way I can afford all of what you want without a little bit of returning to my old life."
"Well...the owner was a real jerk anyways. He deserves it."
"That's the spirit," Gaius said.
"I'll keep watch. Work fast, and duck if you see any torch lights. Take whatever you want."
Severa smirked, and pulled bows by the handful into her satchel. This was better than shopping, because everything was free. And she got to skip the lecture from Laurent when he went on and on and bored her to death about how she shouldn't use all the funds of the army on delicious apples.
Gods, there were so many beautiful things. All for free and all for her. Maybe being a thief's daughter was actually great.
Not that she remembered her dad so well. He'd died when she was so young.
"Don't wear these until we're out of town. If anyone asks...say they were a gift," Gaius said.
"I'm not stupid, of course I won't," Severa said.
When her satchel was bursting with gold and hair accessories, she tied it up.
"Time to go before the owner wakes up."
"It was kind of nice spending time with you."
She broke off, and blushed. How stupid to admit anything to this guy, who was her dad and not her real dad. Just another timeline version of him, who'd be glad to be rid of her once the Severa of this timeline was born. Even though he looked so close, Gaius could never be really her dad. He was just a stand-in for now, so Severa could never let herself get too close or hope that she'd ever be welcome back once they fought Grima.
And knowing her luck, they'd probably lose.
Surely, he was just putting up with her out of pity. This whole thing was just to shut her up, and Severa went and took these crumbs because they were all she had.
"Me too, kiddo. You're a pretty good accomplice. I should teach you some more."
Gaius reached out and patted her head, like she was some little kid.
"Hey, don't mess up my hair," Severa muttered.
Even though it was kind of nice to spend time with her dad like this.
"Maybe I'll become a thief like you."
"I'll teach you the ropes, just...don't tell your mother. Or Chrom for that matter," Gaius said.
Gaius paused.
A long creaking sound came up behind them.
"Run."
They hurried down the dark alleyway as dogs barked. She held tight to her satchel as they left the town behind.
Back to the base, where this would remain their little secret. And it was nice to have something that was just her and her dad's.
Well, that and a way to finally dress the way she always dreamed.
*
Severa was always so well dressed, even in the heat of battle. She always had the best creams for her face, the best accessories and boots and clothes. And weapons! Oh, the weapons she managed to uncover. The best Brave and Killer swords anyone could ask for.
From battle, surely.
However could she have found such dresses? If ever she was asked, Severa would have only one thing to say:
"Old family secret. Couldn't possibly share it."
Series: Fire Emblem: Awakening
Character/pairing: Gaius, Severa (Gaius/Cordelia)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1505
Summary: Unable to keep up with Severa's wishes, Gaius teachers her the family trick to getting just what she wants.
The "five finger special."
Author's note:
Based on Severa's father supports where she constantly begs for stuff. I always thought Gaius would just teach her how to steal.
After the last round, Severa was ready to wash up and go to sleep. This war was hell on her hair. It was all dry, and her skin! Ugh. Self-care was the only thing which helped her feel alive when she already knew what was coming for them. It wasn't like they'd be able to pull this whole scheme off. They'd just have to watch their parents die all over again.
Speaking of parents, here was hers. She still wasn't sure how he and her mom ever made it. How would a thief and a pegasus knight ever fall in love?
He carried candy in his pockets, and Severa knew that things like crumbs on his clothes would drive her mother to distraction.
Never mind that mom always chose Chrom, even when he married her best friend.
"What do you want?" Severa said.
It came out sharper than she meant. Things always did. She was exhausted after a long day and cranky as hell. Gaius didn't even flinch at her remark.
"Hey, Sunshine. Time for some father-daughter bonding time."
"Are you saying that just to get me to work again?"
Severa pushed her red pigtails over her shoulder. With parents like hers, of course she'd be a ginger.
"We're not going to be cleaning out stalls. Trust me."
"Fine, whatever. I'll take my bath later. I just hope this won't take too long."
"Follow me out, and tell no one where we're going," Gaius said.
"What, isn't that like, the number one thing we're supposed to do? Inform everyone where we're going so we don't become Risen food?"
"Not this time. And just one more thing..."
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Chrom about this. And really don't tell your mother about this."
"What is this? Some surprise party? We're at war here, you know."
"Not quite."
And her dad didn't elaborate, no matter how many times she pestered him for answers.
*
It was completely dark by the time they left camp. Her father had gone to a town, though gods knew why. Nothing but the tavern and inn would be open at this hour, and they were the opposite way.
"It's dangerous out this time of night, you know," Severa said.
"No guards around. We should be fine."
Guards? It was the Risen she was worried about. If they met any guards, they'd just say they were on a mission from Chrom. Except, wait, Chrom wasn't supposed to know about this.
Gaius led her down a back alley next to the accessory store. Which was pretty damn overpriced. The bows and baubles had been gorgeous, but the guy sure wasn't giving them away. Not even Severa's attempts could sway him into giving her a little better price.
Severa nearly stepped in a puddle. Blech!
"Father, where exactly are we--"
Gaius softly cut her off.
"Shh. I need to focus for this to work."
They were standing at a door in the middle of the night, probably about to be eaten by some Risen. And for what? The store wasn't even open.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"Just bear with me a little longer, Sunshine," Gaius said.
He pulled out a lockpick which had been stored by the candy at the pockets on his chest.. With a few turns, he managed to spring the lock free and go in the back door.
"Good to know that I'm not rusty. Now, don't trip and make some noise as we go in."
Severa didn't even know what to make of this. Sneaking into a store in the middle of the night?
Sure, her dad was a thief, but he gave that life up a long time ago. Right?
Gaius eased the door open and inclined his head to listen. He hadn't even brought a torch, and the room was entirely dark save for the little bit of light from the door. And even that changed when Gaius closed the door behind them.
"Good. There's no guard dogs. Be careful of dogs. They can ruin an entire operation. You can tame them up beforehand. Give them some meat and they might not bark."
"What is this whole thing anyways? What kind of father-daughter bonding time is this?"
"You wanted some accessories. We're getting you some accessories."
"Oh, that..." Severa blushed and looked away at this admission. "I was being a brat," Severa said.
"Yep."
Severa glowered at him, even though he couldn't see it in the dark. She wondered if this was the part where he would go the minute this war is over, I'll be glad once you're gone.
"Hey, you were supposed to tell me I wasn't and that I was the best daughter."
"I probably wasn't the kind of father you were thinking you'd have. But we're both making do. And it sounds like you had a raw deal in the past. So I'm getting you these accessories one way or another. No way I can afford them on my own. But, I can still do jobs like this for my kid."
"Really, dad?" Severa's voice wavered.
"Yes, but keep it down, or we'll get guards after us. I'm supposed to have left this life behind officially. I'm like a privateer. Using my skills just for Chrom. But, I got a kid to take care of now. And no way I can afford all of what you want without a little bit of returning to my old life."
"Well...the owner was a real jerk anyways. He deserves it."
"That's the spirit," Gaius said.
"I'll keep watch. Work fast, and duck if you see any torch lights. Take whatever you want."
Severa smirked, and pulled bows by the handful into her satchel. This was better than shopping, because everything was free. And she got to skip the lecture from Laurent when he went on and on and bored her to death about how she shouldn't use all the funds of the army on delicious apples.
Gods, there were so many beautiful things. All for free and all for her. Maybe being a thief's daughter was actually great.
Not that she remembered her dad so well. He'd died when she was so young.
"Don't wear these until we're out of town. If anyone asks...say they were a gift," Gaius said.
"I'm not stupid, of course I won't," Severa said.
When her satchel was bursting with gold and hair accessories, she tied it up.
"Time to go before the owner wakes up."
"It was kind of nice spending time with you."
She broke off, and blushed. How stupid to admit anything to this guy, who was her dad and not her real dad. Just another timeline version of him, who'd be glad to be rid of her once the Severa of this timeline was born. Even though he looked so close, Gaius could never be really her dad. He was just a stand-in for now, so Severa could never let herself get too close or hope that she'd ever be welcome back once they fought Grima.
And knowing her luck, they'd probably lose.
Surely, he was just putting up with her out of pity. This whole thing was just to shut her up, and Severa went and took these crumbs because they were all she had.
"Me too, kiddo. You're a pretty good accomplice. I should teach you some more."
Gaius reached out and patted her head, like she was some little kid.
"Hey, don't mess up my hair," Severa muttered.
Even though it was kind of nice to spend time with her dad like this.
"Maybe I'll become a thief like you."
"I'll teach you the ropes, just...don't tell your mother. Or Chrom for that matter," Gaius said.
Gaius paused.
A long creaking sound came up behind them.
"Run."
They hurried down the dark alleyway as dogs barked. She held tight to her satchel as they left the town behind.
Back to the base, where this would remain their little secret. And it was nice to have something that was just her and her dad's.
Well, that and a way to finally dress the way she always dreamed.
*
Severa was always so well dressed, even in the heat of battle. She always had the best creams for her face, the best accessories and boots and clothes. And weapons! Oh, the weapons she managed to uncover. The best Brave and Killer swords anyone could ask for.
From battle, surely.
However could she have found such dresses? If ever she was asked, Severa would have only one thing to say:
"Old family secret. Couldn't possibly share it."
