The Knight and the Duck

~1~

Once upon a time, there was a knight..

Fakir made his way from his home, waving goodbye to his dad and over around to the lake.

It'd been at least three months since Rue and Mytho had gone back into the story, and now Fakir was writing his own. He didn't mind it but-

it didn't soften the uneasiness he felt over writing about Duck.

Little Duck, Ahiru, who was delighted to see him when he arrived.

"Quack!! Quack quack Quack QUACK"
translation: "Fakir!! You're here!! Hi!"

Fakir grinned softly,

"Hey Duck, how are you?" He bent down, and pet her head. She leaned into his hand. "I brought you something!"

Fakir produced a half loaf of bread, Caron had freshly baked the other day. Fakir had been learning to bake as well, figuring out what types of bread Duck liked.

Duck quaked delightedly and Fakir threw some bread out to her. She ate it excitedly.

Of course, he couldn't bring her only bread. Usually he brought some cheese, cracked corn, and some lettuce. Today though, he was eager to write, ideas fresh in his brain.

He'd been struggling on a plot however, unsure on how to write her story.

Fakir didn't want to lose Duck, he just wanted to at least hug her again, to know she is safe.

His gaze wandered to little Duck, who was resting her beak under her wing. The cowlick feather bounced up and down in the breeze.

"Dammit," Fakir buried his head in his hand. "What if I hurt you? What will I do I could never."

Princess Tutu flashed in his mind.

So beautiful, but a beautiful heart, a beautiful heart that shown in the girl named Duck. Even so in the duck named Duck.

Fakir would rather stop breathing than hurt her. He put down his pen and got out of his chair, pulling up his pantlegs and sitting on the side of the dock. He laid back, feet dangling in the water.

"Quack?"

Fakir sat up quickly. "Duck? are you okay?"

She was in fact, okay, her little head cocked to the side. Fakir scooped her up and set her on his chest.

"Sigh I'm worried about hurting you." Duck snuggled into a ball, her beak inches away from Fakir's. He shut his eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Who do you want to be?? Do you want to be Tutu? Or Duck? And me? Would you even be okay? What if I mess up again?"

"Quack?" Duck smiled. "Quack QUACK Quack Quack-quack quack Quack!!"
Translation: "WHAT? After all this time you still are worried about me?"

Fakir let out a chuckle. "I wish that you could be human, just for a day...I miss you."

Duck got up and got off his chest, instead snuggling up to the crook of his neck. "Quack."

Fakir smiled into her yellow feathers. Things were okay like this for now, and he could worry about it later.

...and with the knight, a duck, who fought by his side no matter what.