OLD TIMES

July 2012

“Not that I’m complaining,” Rodrick Lacroix began, whipping his mask off and lowering his saber. “But you haven’t defeated me once today. What’s the matter with you?”

Sebastien Merrow walked over to the bench nearest his side of the piste and dropped his own mask down on it. The training hall was quiet today. The clashing of steel and squeaks of rubber that often filled the wide-open space absent. It made the place feel foreign to Sebastien, unfamiliar. He glanced up at the wooden beams high above the two men. Rodrick was right, of course. This wasn’t like him. As much as Sebastien didn’t like to admit it, he was the superior fencer. It was rare for Rodrick to get the upper hand. But today, Sebastien couldn’t focus on anything but their going away party, and what he had planned for it. He glanced over at his friend and took a drink from his water bottle.

“I’m going to ask Laura to marry me,” Sebastien blurted, his excitement finally getting the better of him.

“Marry you?” Rodrick echoed after a beat of silence. Sebastien wasn’t sure what to make of the shock in his friend’s voice. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” Sebastien placed a hand on Rodrick’s shoulder, unable to contain his grin. He couldn’t understand the surprise on Rodrick’s face. His friend must have seen this coming. Anyone who saw how happy Sebastien was with Laura would have seen this coming. “I love her… I can’t imagine life without her.”

Rodrick shook his head and turned away from him.

Sebastien dropped his hand, which was still hovering between them. “I know - I know I’m being soppy, but it’s true. I’ve loved no one like I love her.”

“Laura is easy to love,” Rodrick said, and from the tone of his voice, Sebastien wasn’t sure he’d meant for him to hear.

“Rodrick-”

“Are you sure marriage is the right step for you right now?” Rodrick said, facing his friend again.

“What do you mean?” Sebastien asked. He was sure Rodrick would have been as ecstatic as he was.

“I don’t want you to rush into things with her, that’s all.” Rodrick turned away again, running a hand through his blond, curly hair. “I care about her. About both of you.” He turned his head, pinning Sebastien under his piercing, icy gaze. “I don’t want either of you to get hurt. You need to think about it some more.”

“I don’t need to think about it any more than I already have, trust me,” Sebastien pressed, his mood dropping. How could Rodrick even consider the possibility that Sebastien could hurt Laura? It was almost insulting for him to even suggest such a thing. Rodrick was his best friend. He knew him better than anyone else. Sebastien could understand Rodrick being protective over Laura. They had grown up together, they had a bond stronger than blood. Laura had told him how Rodrick had always been like the brother she’d never had. How he’d always been there for her, no matter what. How, when the shit hit the fan at her uncle’s house, Laura could always count on Rodrick Lacroix to keep her safe. Sebastien could understand his need to protect Laura. He was grateful for it, even. But Sebastien wasn’t some guy messing her around, and Rodrick knew that. “Laura is my soulmate. And as a friend to us both, I want you to be happy for us.”

“I gotta get some water.”

Sebastien watched Rodrick exit the hall, his water bottle abandoned next to his bag. He had been so sure Rodrick would have been happy for him, for Laura. He’d also been sure Laura would say yes to his proposal, and now… He’d misjudged things with Rodrick, somehow. Had he misjudged things with Laura, too?

“Hey, champion.”

Sebastien turned to see Laura behind him. Her bright red hair was ablaze in the morning sun that burst in through the windows of the training hall. “I’m not the champion yet,” he corrected, unable to hold back his smile as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Winning gold at the fencing championship in Havana, making Laura his wife, getting the job with the DA. Sebastien couldn’t ask for more.

“Yet,” Laura said, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind his ear. “But you’re going to wipe the floor with them, I know it.”

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“If either Rodrick or I bring back a medal, I’ll be happy,” Sebastien said. What Rodrick lacked in skill, he made up for with ambition. He could see the fire in his friend when they sparred. Rodrick possessed a drive to win, unmatched by anyone else. Their coach seemed to have overlooked it when he’d declared Sebastien the favorite to win. But Sebastien knew Rodrick was still very much in the running.

“Me too. You’ve both worked so hard for this, you both deserve it.” Laura pressed her body against his, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling his face closer. Sebastien pressed his forehead against hers, basking in the feel of her skin, the scent of her hair. “What I’m not happy about is having to live without you for ten whole days. I wish I was going with you.”

“I wish you were coming, too.” Sebastien pulled away to run a finger down her forehead, across the bridge of her nose, pausing at her lips. All doubts about asking her to marry him were immediately forgotten. “But I’ll be back before you know it.” He drew his finger down to her chin and tilted her face towards his. He was about to press his lips against hers when he heard the soft squeaking of shoes approaching.

Sebastien released Laura and turned to Rodrick. “One of us is bringing some gold home, right?”

“Right,” Rodrick said, voice tight, then nodded at Laura. “Sorry, we need to get in as much practice as we can before the championship.” Rodrick threw a saber at Sebastien, with rather more force than was necessary. Sebastien caught it with ease.

“Of course. I’ll see you both later at the party,” Laura said, oblivious to the dark mood radiating from Rodrick. “I love you.” She pressed her lips against Sebastien’s and then ran over to press a kiss against Rodrick’s cheek, too.

“Laura!” Sebastien called when she was already halfway across the hall. She turned back, and Sebastien pressed his hand to his chest, above his heart. He pulled it away, pretending to throw his heart across the space between them. Laura grinned as she lifted herself up onto tiptoes. She snatched his invisible heart from the air, then pressed her hand to her own chest. She had his heart, completely, always.

Sebastien turned his attention back to Rodrick. His friend’s mask was already on, his saber brandished before him. Sebastien smiled as he pulled his own mask back on, too. His slight irritation with his friend was what he needed to get his head back in the game.

Rodrick lost every single match for the rest of the practice.

#

“Dr Lacroix, what a… Pleasant surprise!” Helen Ramsden stuttered as she opened the door. The look on her face confirmed how much of an actual surprise his visit was.

“I’m sorry to drop in unannounced, Mrs Ramsden,” Albert Lacroix began. “But I was hoping to speak with your husband. Is he in?”

Helen opened her mouth and shut it again, as if unsure of what to say to his request. Albert couldn’t blame her. It had been years since Dr Lacroix had debased himself by associating with Lewis Ramsden. “Of course, yes, come in, please,” she finally said, stepping aside. “I’ll go get him now,” she added, and then excused herself.

Albert glanced around the room, fighting the urge to sneer. It was a room he had visited only a handful of times before. His meetings with Lewis always took place somewhere where Albert was in control. His office, his study. His practice. Places without carpet stains and yellowing wallpaper. Places where Lewis would always know who had the power.

“Albert.” Lewis swaggered into the room, the stale odor of beer oozing off his skin. His vest, once white, crumpled and untucked. His spineless wife scurried in after him. “What could have dragged you out of your palace and into my humble shithole?”

“Lewis!” Helen admonished, with a guilty look towards Albert. She tucked a strand of limp, mousey hair behind her ear.

Lewis glanced over at his wife, his beady eyes hazy, as if he hadn’t realized she’d followed him in. “Don’t you have to get started with dinner? Go!”

“It was lovely to see you again, Dr Lacroix.” Helen smiled, hands clasped in front of her.

“Likewise, Mrs Ramsden.” Albert nodded in her direction, and she scurried back out of the living room.

Lewis studied Albert with an unreadable expression. Albert felt like slapping it right off his face. Who was Lewis, to look at him that way?

“What do you want?”

“Have you heard?” Albert buried his hands in the pockets of his suit, biting his tongue. Lewis was too volatile. Albert had to play things with care, keep the buffoon’s temper in check. As much as he hated it, Albert needed him again.

“About Horace Merrow digging into that child trafficking business?” Lewis paced closer, his hands in his threadbare trousers, mirroring Albert. As if by copying his posture, he could become even half the man he was. “Yeah, I’ve read the papers. Shoulda known that would bring you back to my neighborhood. Lit a fire under your ass, has he?”

“I don’t see why you’re being so blasé about the whole thing,” Albert said. “You’re involved in this as much as I am.”

Lewis let out a humorless laugh. “I was the delivery guy.” He stepped closer and closer with every sentence, and Albert had to fight the urge to step back in disgust. “It was your practice. Your operation.” Lewis’s vile smile widened. “Your problem.”

“If Horace goes ahead with this, I am taking you down with me,” Albert said, lowering his voice. “And I’m not talking about the trafficking operation.” Albert paused, letting Lewis simmer. “It would be a shame if your family found out about the little favor I did for you.”

Lewis’s smile fell. No physical violence required. “What do you want?” he asked again.

“I want you to help me make it go away.”

“Like old times, huh?” Lewis huffed.

Albert nodded. “Like old times.”