via
https://ift.tt/2nsmwDIsparklecryptid:
continuation of the Ace-gets-beat-up-Reveal.
@hamelin-born
Ace is. shocked to put it mildly. he hadn’t thought when he woke up to the tangle of rage and possessiveness and guilt that radiated through the magic he felt that it would be Regis sitting by his bed. That Regis would be sitting by his bedside and that Regis would take his hand and tell Ace firmly that Ace would never be an obligation.
Ace snorts as soon as the words are out of Regis mouth and opens his eyes to stare in disbelief at the king. “Might not be one now,” Ace says and the words are heavy in his mouth, “But you don’t know me. Don’t know that I wouldn’t end up one. That would hurt worse, I think, then just shoving this under the rug now.”
The hand holding his tightens. “I don’t know you,” Regis agrees, “I don’t know you the way a father should know their child, and that I think, I will regret for long time. But I know others would have fought back no matter the consequences, I know from your husband that you could have wounded or killed those that attacked you but you didn’t-” Regis almost says ‘I wish you had’ but he doesn’t. Ace doesn’t need to know the simmering rage coiling tight in his belly right now. Doesn’t need to know how badly Regis wishes he could deal with those that hurt his som the way he dealt with the Marilith that hurt Noctis, “-I know that you’re a good man,” Regis says softly, and Ace-
Can’t bear to look at the king any longer. he turns his head and stares at the ceiling. “It’ll be a scandal,” he says at last because despite what Ardyn believes Ace knows himself, can see himself in the way Regis looks at him like he’s made up his mind and isn’t going to change it, “It’ll be a really big fucking scandal.” Because Ace is still unsure but a part of him wants to get to know his dad and his brother because they are family.
“Then we deal with it.”
“I’m going to verbally maim half your council. And I’m not going to shut up about how fucking badly my people treated here until something changes, and if I gotta force that change I will.”
“Most of the council deserves what’s coming to them,” Regis says, “And you are correct, change must be made.”
“I’m not giving up my bar.”
“No one is going to force you to.”
Ace makes a frustrated noise and considers smothering his father with a pillow. by the look on Regis’ face, he knows what Ace is thinking
Ace grumbles a bit, but then Regis’ magic seems to fill the room and rather than being stifling it’s nice. its soothing and reminds ace of the times he would submerge himself in water and just. be. as a child. ace drifts off again. and regis leaves to go and see if nyx hand any process in phoning Ace’s uncle.
royal bastard au ▸ nyx has indeed phoned ardyn ▸ nyx told ardyn what happened and the next thing he knew ardyn was there ▸ in the citadel ▸ ardyn had fucking warped there and there was a storm in his eyes and his body suddenly looked like it was housing ▸ too many things ▸ it looked as though there was a monster trying to escape and its only the fact that regis walked in just as ardyn appeared ▸ that stopped nyx from just watching ardyn ▸ ace used to joke that his uncle was a demon ▸ right now nyx can believe him
@sparklecryptid
Regis is just tearing apart every argument Ace is raising about just why the King shouldn’t formally and openly acknowledge their relationship, and it’s irritating as hell. (Ace: Is that where I get it from?) But at the same time - it’s almost nice. To know that his father wants him. Wants him enough to fight for him; Ace curls himself in the presence of his father’s magic and lets it lull him to sleep, knowing that he is safe.
And Regis admits to himself that he is - intrigued by what he knows of Ace’s uncle. The only other blood family that his son has, according to his son-in-law - and that’s something else to wrap his head around; his son is married, he has a son-in-law. (More family, Regis thinks to himself, and smiles slightly.) Ace’s Uncle - apparently cares for Ace enough to kill for him (or at least threaten to kill for him), he knows Ace’s parentage and has been encouraging Ace to come forward while respecting his decision to refrain from doing so, he’s argued with his nephew regarding any number of issues and Ace genuinely seems to respect his opinion - well. He seems like an interesting man, and Regis finds himself - curious. And maybe even looking forward to meeting the individual in question; he finds himself wanting to get along with Ace’s family.
Except when he walks in to check with Nyx, there’s another man there. Tall, with an aura he recognizes instantly - magic, once again. Magic heavy with menace, with protectiveness and snarling possession, with an unrelenting determination and a positive lust for violence - the man turns, and some part of Regis abstractly recognizes the features of the Chancellor of Niflheim, but they are - curiously distorted, almost, because there is an ocean of pain underlying the various negative emotions, lightened only by a twisting affection.
This is Ace’s Uncle. And Regis can understand why his son would mistake him for another. This is - a twisted mirror, a broken reflection, and he bows his head in recognition of that as he steps forward.
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