[Closed Post] ..the sky will come for you once..

[lanselos_du_lac]

The day is warm and bright -- it's lovely, in fact -- and so Lancelot is doing his best to ignore the strange tension that has been dogging him over the last few days. He is, of course, keeping to his usual routine, which helps, and now he is in the little clearing where he and Magnus meet for training. He's waiting for Magnus to arrive, checking the straps of Arthur's shield while he waits, and doing his best to clear his head and focus up on what he has determined they need to focus on today.

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[lanselos_du_lac]

"No, thou didst not." He sits for a moment, working to stifle the frown that is impending. "Why didst thou?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well, because the secrecy had gone on for quite long enough, hadn't it? Months and months and months."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Why was that a concern?" It's a sincere question, even if there is an unusual note of testiness behind it.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan glances at Lancelot, surprised by that note, especially given that he knows she's never cared for this particular arrangement. She offers him her mug, in case he might like a sip of tea, and says, "He was taking advantage of your goodwill. You ought to be able to talk about your day with your friends." This is putting her concerns very lightly, of course, but there's a queer look to his face that she can't quite parse.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"He wasn't. I knew what he was asking me for and I would not have agreed if I misliked it. All that mattered to me was that I could speak of it to thee, so thou wouldst know where I might be."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan's chin lifts in the way it always does when she's feeling either indignant, stubborn, or insecure. It's likely a less-familiar posture for Lancelot. "Yes," she says. "I know you said that."

[lanselos_du_lac]

It is less familiar, on Susan, but there's a quality to it that sends a pulse of anxiety through him. He sits up a little straighter, levels and lowers his voice. "I did say so, because it was truth."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Since he isn't taking her tea, Susan leans to set it on the floor, then takes his hands in hers and laces their fingers together. "You oughtn't need to keep secrets."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I have no secrets from thee," quietly.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I know you haven't," surprised. "Sweetheart, I wasn't concerned about me, I was concerned about you."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Why?" There's that faint annoyance again, though he himself can't place its source. "I have told thee, all's well."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It mightn't bother you now, but I shouldn't want having to keep additional secrets to take a toll on you later."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Then thou shouldst have spoken with me."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, perhaps I should have." She's not convinced that would have made any sort of difference.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Why didst thou not?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan does have the grace to look fleetingly embarrassed. "It seemed prudent to speak to Magnus. He often behaves thoughtlessly when he ought to consider the impact of his actions."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"It would be my place to speak to Magnus, were his actions harming me." His expression is still an odd mixture of upset, cautious, vaguely hurt. He keeps his hands in hers, though.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"And I shouldn't want you to be hurt in the first place, to feel driven to address the situation," Susan explains. "Sweetheart, I'm afraid I don't understand why you're surprised by this."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot looks momentarily stumped, then (against his better judgment) says the first thing that comes to mind as an explanation. "It is not thy place to interfere."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan blinks, stunned. "Not my place?" she asks after a beat, working very hard to keep her voice from scaling up as she says it.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He grasps for an explanation that makes sense, his sense of upset or worry rising. This probably shows in his face. "It was between Magnus and myself."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Lancelot," she says, slowly, fingers flexing against his hand. "Your well-being is my business. I shan't apologize for wanting to ensure no one is taking advantage of your goodwill."

[lanselos_du_lac]

His jaw clenches briefly, his fingers spasming a little around her own. With his free hand he pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She watches him for a long moment, feeling rather like the ground she'd felt so certain of when she'd taken a step has started to sag beneath her foot. "What?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I don't know, love," softly. "I am sorry."

He withdraws his hand from hers, but only so that he can lean into her and slide his arm around her waist, burying his face in her hair, against her shoulder.