Note: This is going to be a fairly lengthy story so this is why the plot doesn't develop entirely from the first chapter. This story is heavily influenced by the song 'Short Glance' by Lacrimas Profundere, which is where the title and chapter titles come from. I don't own the song and anything from the Godchild/Cain series belongs to Kaori Yuki.
The candlelight made his skin shine like porcelain.
Despite helping his master to dress for years, Riff had never realised that as strongly before; the feeling that Cain was as fragile as porcelain imprinted itself deep into his mind and suddenly all he wanted to do was hold him. Staring at the wicked scars etching the skin of Cain's back, Riff felt a wave of some emotion he could never articulate washing over him.
Looking back on the night on the many evenings alone that were to follow, Riff could never work out why that night had been the one it happened. Nothing had happened to spark any sort of response. It was just an ordinary evening after an ordinary day of taking Mary Weather shopping. Yet what happened that night was one of the most important moments in his life.
Cain was sitting on the edge of his bed like always, his back to the room and his legs sprawled out over the covers so that Riff could help him undress for the evening. His dark hair was hanging down into his face and he seemed deep in thought; it was obvious no speech was forthcoming. If Cain had spoken, Riff would most likely never have done what he did.
Silently and carefully, as always, Riff had removed his master's shirt and now stood staring at his back. He moved ever so slowly and softly forwards, and ran just the tips of his fingers over the scars. Cain didn't respond and this didn't help matters. Without really meaning to and without knowing why, Riff leant forward and kissed the ruined flesh gently.
He pulled away, shocked at himself at the same moment that Cain spun around, eyes wide. He shuffled back along the bed slightly although this didn't help; from spinning around he had made it so that Riff was standing in between his sprawling legs.
Neither of them noticed the strangeness of this as they were too busy staring at the other.
"Riff?" Cain's voice was quiet, childlike and entirely out of character. Riff felt something break inside of him somewhere. Before he knew it, he had leant forward and pressed his lips very softly against Cain's, who was still staring at him, wide-eyed.
Riff drew back very suddenly, gasping a little. What on earth was he doing?
"I…." he began and trailed off, not knowing what to say. Cain took one long, deep breath, his face unreadable. And then he virtually threw himself across the bed in a tangle of well pressed sheets to end up standing on the opposite side to his servant. They watched each other for a few moments.
"Riff…" he said slowly. "Can I ask you if-"
"Don't say it." Riff said quickly and took a step back. His eyes glistened in the candlelight. "I don't think I could bear to here you say it. I'll go. I'll leave tonight and you'll never have to see me again."
Cain was silent for a moment and then spoke suddenly, as though a dam was breaking. "But you promised you'd never leave me!"
"I know." Riff sighed and lowered his eyes to the ground. "I'll…I'll come back someday. When I have figured out whatever it is has possessed me and got rid of it."
"But I-"
"I'll be as quick as I can but I don't know if I can ever make it right." His words were coming fast now, as though he was afraid that once he stopped speaking he would never speak again.
"Riff, I-"
"Goodbye my lord. . . Cain."
With that, Riff left the room quickly, shutting the door behind him with a final, decisive click.
Mary Weather was twirling in front of a large mirror, smiling as the candlelight reflected off of the pearls sewn into her skirts. She had not had time to try on all the outfits she had bought that day while out with her brother and so was trying them on now under cover of darkness. No one would catch her, her brother was already in his room with Riff….
Footsteps were hurrying down the corridor.
Mary squeaked and scanned for a hiding place but could find none. She whimpered again as the door opened suddenly. She was surprised when it revealed Riff and Riff alone. She was even more surprised when she realised he was crying. Riff never cried. Riff never really seemed to feel anything, not in normal situations. So what had happened?
"Riff?" She said quietly, clasping her hands behind her back and looking up at him. She smiled as he sunk to his knees so that he wasn't excessively taller than her. He knew it made her uncomfortable sometimes.
"Sorry if I alarmed you Mary." He said softly. She almost gasped. Something about his tone was different. He wasn't talking to her as the lady of the house, he wasn't talking to her as a child; he was talking to her as a friend.
"It's okay." She said. "What's wrong Riff? What's happened? Has big brother said something dreadful to you?"
Riff laughed and it sounded bitter even to her. "No, not at all. I stopped him from doing that. I'm leaving Mary."
"For how long?" She said, her voice taking on a higher tone of surprise. Her sweet face creased in a frown.
"As long as it takes." He cautiously raised a hand to her tiny shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I am sorry for leaving you, Mary and I'm sorry for having to ask you this but could you do me one favour?"
"Of course, Riff!" She replied. "If you're going away then I want to do anything I can to help get you back faster!"
He chuckled a little and some of the tears stopped. "Thank you. Whenever you see your brother next could you tell him something from me?" Mary nodded, confused. "Tell him that I'm sorry and that I won't break my promise if I can help it. Tell him that this is for the greater good and that I would never want my actions to harm either of you."
Mary nodded again. "But Riff…what did you do?"
He shook his head sadly. "It is of no consequence." He stood and was suddenly towering over Mary again. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a slip of rolled up paper which he then handed to her.
"What's this?" She asked, clutching the paper tightly in her delicate hands.
"An address." He said simply. "I won't be there but if you need me, really need me then talk to the woman there. Don't tell Cain about the address. It's for you alone to use."
She nodded, confused but obedient. What reason had she got not to trust Riff? In some ways, he was more trustworthy than her brother.
"Okay."
He smiled, the tears beginning to flow again and then backed slowly out of the room.
"Goodbye Mary. That dress looks wonderful by the way. It makes you look like a mermaid."
Mary smiled sweetly and ignored the burning in her eyes. "Thank you Riff. Goodbye.
Back in Cain's room, he was still staring at the door as if by staring hard enough Riff would come back. He finally let out a breath he had been holding for god knew how long. It had stopped him from crying. He would only ever cry if he knew Riff would be there to comfort him and now that was a definite impossibility.
He opened his mouth to speak, thinking back angrily to how Riff had simply talked over him. He might as well finish the sentence. It was burning to be said and although it could do no good now, it could also do no harm.
"I just wanted to ask you if you felt it too." He whispered to the flickering candle flame. A single tear fell and he cursed it. Crying would do him no good.
He couldn't bring himself to believe that he might never see Riff again by Riff's choice. It was something he had never imagined and never wanted to but now he was being forced to live it. In his mind, all he could see was his own reflection in Riff's eyes as he had pulled away from what could be barely called a kiss but had contained all the impact of a marriage proposal. Cain could see that Riff had broken every rule by kissing him and yet he didn't care. They had just been denying it anyway, surely it was a good thing? Why would Riff leave? Did he even know what this meant?
Cain sighed and dropped his head into his hands. He just didn't know but he knew one thing; he couldn't think it was over, just couldn't. He would find Riff and tell him how he felt. Even if it didn't bring him back, at least he could put the man at peace.
Strangely, this resolve didn't make him feel any better. Cain got up, pulling on his shirt carelessly and began to walk to Mary Weather's room on shaking legs. Perhaps he had said goodbye to her as well…if he hadn't, Cain had no leads. It had been a while since Riff had left so he couldn't chase him now, didn't even feel strong enough.
Mary had better tell him something, or Cain didn't know if he could keep himself from breaking down entirely; and he had lost the person to catch him when he fell.
Please tell me what you think, it;s my first attempt at a long story with these guys and I'd love to know how I'm doing. Next chapter should be written soon