#kallandra

SO I FUCKING STARTED THIS BEFORE DINNER AND GOING TO THE MOVIES LAST NIGHT AND MY COMPUTER UPDATED AND DELETED THE PROGRESS I HAD MADE SO THAT WAS COOL AND THEN I KIND OF FORGOT SORRY I TOOK SO LONG

1. AngstShe knew, more than anyone, just how vulnerable her Praetor could be when he looked at her with those eyes filled with unspoken love.

2. AUWill you go to prom with me, he repeated over and over in his head, fiddling with the bouquet behind his back. That's all I need to say.

3. Humorok I literally could not think of something for humour I'm so sorry I'm not good at writing it just imagine Lil watching Kal fall flat on his face while trying to walk up some stairs or something idk

4. Future ficHis fingers ran over the worn stone, tracing an epitaph that had not been read for centuries. 

5. BeginningsHe had served empresses before her, but today on her coronation when the title "Majestrix" fell from his lips, Kallark couldn't help the smile that followed.

6. FluffThe man at the end of the conference table was droning on and on, and Kallark could not believe the interest Lilandra managed to conjure on her face. He also could not believe the feel of her hand slipping into his, as the false attention never wavered from her face.

7. FriendshipSometimes, when the empire found a moment or two to remain calm, the Imperial Guard could be found drinking at a table in the corner of some cozy hole in the wall downtown, laughing and teasing and sporting an extra honorary member in their midst. 

8. Hurt/ComfortLilandra felt all things deeply, but always knew when to hide her emotions in the name of leadership and presentation. A soft, reassuring touch always reminded her not everyone was so easily fooled. 

9. SmutThrough the curtains of his eyelashes Kallark looked up at Lilandra, beautiful and perfect and real and moaning his name in the most incredible way he had ever heard, making him wish the universe would freeze just so he would never have to hear anything else as long as he lived. 

It had been a simple touch of her hand on his that had started it.

"Kallark," Lilandra whispered and her fingers grazed his arm.

"Yes, my empress?" He was standing next to her throne like he always had. The room was empty now, the council had been dismissed several minutes ago, including Araki. 

"Do you ever get lonely?" She turned and looked up at him to meet his eyes.

Gladiator took a moment to examine her face before answering. He recalled meeting her for the first time when she was fresh out of the Shi'ar Academy. Lilandra has bowed to him at their introduction and he had been instantly been intrigued by the youngest Neramani; something that had never happened to him before in all the years he served as Praetor.

His eyes met her's and he answered honestly. "Sometimes."

"Were you upset when Oracle wanted to wed Flashbolt?"

"No. My feelings for her that way are minimal at best." Kallark began to slightly internally panic . Never had an emperor or empress taken interest in his life before.

An Ending - Brian Eno

Cassandra Nova had left his queen in a delicate state. She had driven Lilandra insane and almost causing him and his guard to wipe out the mutant species. His advanced hearing could hear the whispers of councilmen outside and he clenched his fists in rage.

"Her mind is lost."

"She's not herself. She's not fit to rule."

"But who could replace her? She is not well."

No one could replace her, were Kallark's thoughts. He lifted his head, finally meeting Lilandra's eyes. "My empress? Is there anything you require of me before I retire?"

She gazed off at the wall behind him. "Gladiator, rise."

He did as he was told and Lilandra took his hand into her's. "Empress?" He questioned, his tone soft.

"What do you think of me, Kallark?" Her gaze was still focused on the wall behind him. "How do you see me?"

"I see you as a just ruler."

"No." She finally looked up and met his eyes. How do you think of me? ....Do you love me?"

He swallowed hard, slowly pulling his hand away from her's. "My empress, I serve at your pleasure as I have served all emperors for centuries."

"Kal, I need to know. Do you love me not as a Praetor but as a person? Am I worth cherishing?" She reached up and placed both of her hands on his cheeks. "They are going to send me away to recover. They think my mind is gone."

Kallark slowly put a hand over hers."I--Yes. I have loved you since you came to the throne. My confidence is at its highest when you rule because I cannot bare the thought of serving others. I serve at your pleasure and only your pleasure. Those words are a lie to anyone else."

She once told me a story  about when she was a girl at the Academy. She hadn't been an adept fighter but she liked to read. A hoard of brood came and killed her instructor, but she had used the tactics from her books to save everyone else. 

This was the night I told her of how I killed the Strontian council at the behest of the Emperor T'Korr to become his Praetor. I promised my people I would not let them die in vain, that I would serve the throne and not the person on it. These were their last wishes. 

I told her I had lived up to these standards for centuries. 

I had never faltered, I had never had to question my confidence.