(I wrote this for the POW discord server and wanted to share with here.)
He had changed, a lot if you asked anyone who really knew him, knew him more than his family name and place within the Heron hierarchy that is. He wasn't the same energetic bubble of positivity he used to try to radiate to those who truly knew of him.
Christian had gone missing around three months ago, leaving the Herons without a leader or a temporary replacement until his return or confirmed loss of life. That was, of course, until Hudson and Aurelia Denholm started dishing their money out in all the right places and began to smooth talk all of the right people.
Scott stood in the tavern with a dead look in his eyes, right where many greats once stood years before him and where many more would stand long after he was gone but he did not want to be there, he wished to be anywhere else quite frankly.
His friends were about to sail off on an adventure, smiling and laughing while he was forced to stand here, prim and proper. He had to be perfect, that was the Denholm way after all. To protect his faction from his parents he'd do exactly that, play the perfect, responsible and amicable son.
"Scott! Straighten your spine!" Aurelia demanded as she entered the faction tavern, throwing a pouch of gold at her son's chest before leaving without further formalities.
Scott did as he was told, though the second his mother had left he relaxed a bit, he couldn't bear to stay upright any longer, he'd been on his feet all day pretending to be happy with this arrangement, with his new rank and the power he now possessed not only in his home faction but around the Isles too.
"You know, I can relieve you of your duties if you want? You look absolutely over it," Came a voice from behind the Denholm heir, a familiar and comforting voice, one Scott was thankful to hear in that present moment.
Scott turned to face Gabriel, “You know my parents Gabe, they'd probably end me if they found out I've abandoned my duties for leisure or relaxation. A Denholm does not rest until they are beneath the soil of this earth," he spoke in a monotone voice, the one he had worked so hard to force out when his parents had left before Factioning Day.
“I'll say Graecie needed you for something, leader stuff. She'll play along Scott, you know she will and so will Mara and Alison. You need to relax, you are not yourself here,” Gabriel urged, reaching out a hand to Scott.
The oldest Denholm child flinched back, taking a step away from Gabriel, “Go in my stead, and send my apologies for not being able to make it, perhaps another adventure on another day.” he spoke firmly, “Do bring me back a strawberry or two if you can?”
Gabriel went to protest, trying to convince the de facto leader to relax and enjoy life to the fullest, “Scott-”
“That is an order, Gabriel.”
Gabriel paused for a moment but he saw the pain in Scott's eyes so he dropped the matter, if only to not cause harm to the mentality of the flame haired boy, “Of course.”
And suddenly he was alone again, alone in his self pity and anxiousness.
Scott felt a small tear roll down his cheek, he wanted not one thing more than the ability to run and not return.
Ironic wasn't it? He'd been so upset when his shooting star had disappeared from the face of the earth without a trace and here he was contemplating nothing else but that. Hypocrisy is what some may call it, though Scott called it a survival urge.
“Crying again? Just as useless as ever!” Hudson Denholm barked out behind his eldest, causing the younger Denholm to spin around and face his creator.
Hudson Denholm was not his father, not after what he'd done to him. Hudson Denholm was his creator and nothing more.
Scott fixed his posture subtly, “I know not about the matter of which you speak, Sir,” every lesson on etiquette training and how to address his parents hit him at once as he flipped mentally back to his perfect persona.
“Gods above you are as useless as your brother was!” Hudson stepped forward, challenging his son's power with every bit of security in the knowledge that Scott would not dare to fight back.
Scott stepped back if only to save himself a few more moments before the inevitable arrived.
Hudson raised his hand and yet a voice stopped him before he could do anything with the outstretched appendage.
“Step away from him.” The voice was angry and powerful, leaving no room for argument in their tone, not that Hudson cared.
Hudson turned harshly on his heel ready to scream in return but he froze at the sight of the problem he thought he took care of.
The figure strode towards the Denholm father and son, standing between the two to protect Scott, “You, Hudson Denholm, are hereby removed from my faction. You and your wife will leave my part of this Isle and get on a boat to sail as far away as you can.”
“How are you-?” Hudson had sent men to personally ensure Christian did not make it back from his ventures alive, he did not understand how the man still stood before him, drawing breath just as he was.
“Silence. Disobey my orders and I will do to you as what has been done to every traitor on my soil before you. I will throw you into that volcano personally,” Christian threatened, his voice as hard as stone as he stood to protect the younger Heron. Anyone else would call a bluff but at this moment Scott believed Christian to be telling the truth, the leader may have hated the volcano idea but he hated Hudson Denholm one thousand times more.
Hudson did not wish to yet he had not a second option to consider and so with a scowl he left to retrieve his wife and belongings if only to preserve his own life.
Christian turned to comfort and speak to Scott but not a word was shared before he was hugged tightly by the red headed man before him.
“Thank you, for everything.”
“For what specifically Scott?”
“For standing up for me. No one has ever stood up for me before you, Chris,” Scott spoke through his tears.
Christian found himself returning the embrace now, “For a true Heron I would do anything. Now go run along, I saw Owen looking for you, something about a quest if I remember correctly. Don't want our faction falling too low on the reputation board.”
Scott nodded a little, “Welcome back Christian, we've missed you,” he smiled as he pulled back, running off to join his friends upon the sea.
Christian chuckled as we watched Scott ditch his jacket on a bar stool, “I've missed you guys a lot too.”
