Piano Lessons

"Hey, kid, you'd better get off that or I'll break your legs."

Doug perked up at the sound of a familiar voice. From his perch atop the instrument, he stuck his tongue out cheekily and continued to swing his feet.

"Make me," was his response. Galahad raised a brow before pulling on his ear. "Ow, ow! Damn, okay!"

"Why are you such a brat?" Galahad shook his head, a smile on his face. Doug rubbed his throbbing ear with one hand and flicked off the elder with the other.

The tall male pulled a soft rag from his back pocket and ran it over the piano's black lid until it shone elegantly. The shorter male watched on as his companion dusted the keys gently and wiped away every speck of dust with care. Once done, large hands tuned the instrument with skill. Galahad sat on the bench and hit a few keys, listening closely until he was satisfied with the sound.

"Play something for me." Doug demanded as he sat cross legged on the floor.

"What do you want to hear?"

"Mmm...anything."

Galahad thought for a moment before he began to play a quick, melodic tune. Doug closed his eyes and listened intently. Secretly, he loved it when Galahad played the piano ( though he'd never say that aloud). Every chance he'd get, in the early mornings when Bastard was void of people, Doug would come over and watch as Galahad practised piano songs for that evening's event. Light brown eyes would watch, mesmerised, as long, calloused fingers glided over the black and white keys. That man could play songs that Doug could only ever dream of playing. It didn't take much for Doug to decide that the piano was his favourite instrument. He was so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed the other male had stopped playing.

"Doug," he called out. "Sit here."

The freckled boy opened his eyes to see his friend patting the space next to him on the bench. Obediently, he sat. With his back straight and hands fisted in his lap, Doug looked up at the elder with childishly wide eyes.

"I'll teach you," Galahad said. "Just do what I do."

The man proceeded to play 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' slowly.

"Now, you try," he encouraged.

Doug cautiously placed his fingers on the keys and attempted to repeat the melody. He winced as he hit a wrong key, the sound echoing loudly. Galahad laughed at his embarrassed expression before rubbing at the younger's hair.

"Don't worry kid, you'll get the hang of it in no time."

Doug spent the rest of his afternoon sitting at the piano, determined to get it right.

Galahad sat on the piano's bench, back slouching over the keys. Numbly, he played 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' with one hand. The song was slow and held more sadness than the joy it once did. He recalled memories of when the fair-skinned male would come and sit at the piano for hours at a time to practise the songs he would teach him. The younger male's confused expression had made him laugh the day he tried to teach him to read music. It was easy to remember the wide grin the boy would give him whenever he had mastered a song by himself. Galahad yearned for the mornings where they would play together, as a master and his protégé. He'd grown proud of his student's growing progress.

"Doug…" the name escaped his lips unconsciously as the last note echoed hauntingly.

A/N: Hello my lovelies~ This was just a short piece inspired by episode eight after I saw Galahad playing the piano. I just couldn't not write about it and include my favourite shorty. I love Doug so much and it's sad to see that there aren't as many stories on here about him as I'd like D: Anyway, thanks for reading and remember, reviews are love!