Bad Blood
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine. I am just borrowing them for a little while and will return them unharmed.
Author’s Notes- I find it interesting that Marco’s name is never spoken between Kenna and Diavolos (though they don’t get a ton of scenes) since it is one of the many things that stands in the way of their relationship, so I wanted to address it.
Paring- Kenna/Diavolos
Rating- PG
Summary- Kenna and Diavolos talk about Marco.
Words- 661
“Baltair was sick for the day and had both Seoras and I running around to make sure Father didn’t find out why,” Diavolos finished with a laugh.
Kenna snuggled up to him, loving the sound of his laugh and the fact that he was opening up to her, sharing childhood stories, except… Kenna frowned as a thought occurred to her.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Diavolos asked instantly, his arms tightening protectively around her.
“You never mention Marco,” she realized, “is it because of me?”
It suddenly occurred to her that they had been married almost a year and yet this was the first time Marco’s name had been spoken between them.
Diavolos was silent for a long moment. “I don’t have a single pleasant memory of Marco,” he said finally, “not one adventure or funny story. In fact, I used to wonder if I would be the one to kill him or if Zenobia would beat me to it.”
Oh. Kenna hadn’t been expecting that, though given her encounters with Marco, maybe she should have.
Diavolos let go of her and sat up quickly, making Kenna wonder if her question upset him, but he simply flexed one muscular arm. “Marco gave me this scar when he was 15. It was a sneak attack, the only reason he managed to wound me.”
Kenna’s eyes widened in surprise. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but that wasn’t it.
“Father chewed me out for being caught unaware,” Diavolos continued, “and then punished Marco. Not for attacking, that was to be expected, but for only succeeding in a flesh wound and for being severely trounced in return. I think that just made him hate me more.”
Once more, Kenna was filled with anger at Luther and the way he had chosen to raise his children. It was a miracle that Diavolos had turned out to be such an amazing man with a monster like Luther for a father.
“I was relieved when Father took him to Stormholt,” Diavolos admitted, “because I just wanted him gone.”
Kenna winced at the reminder of Marco’s time at Stormholt and the damage he had done to her kingdom and her people.
Diavolos swore under his breath and then pulled her back into his embrace. “Kenna, love, I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I wish I could say that I gave some thought to the destruction he would case, but I was pretty blinded to anything but winning the war against the Iron Kingdom.”
“I know,” she said softly, “it’s ok.” She was the one who had introduced the topic of Marco, knowing that there would be potential minefields. “Besides my limited interactions with Marco gave me plenty of reasons to understand not wanting to have him around.”
She rested her head against his chest. “I guess, I just wanted to make sure that you didn’t secretly resent me for killing him.”
“He stole your castle, threatened your people, and, knowing Marco, probably committed unspeakable acts of cruelty,” Diavolos said calmly, “he brought his death on himself. Just like my father did.” Then was a long silence then, “though it makes me worry.”
“About what?” She asked quietly.
“About the type of father I’m going to be,” he admitted, his hand resting protectively on her swollen stomach. “It’s not like I had a great role model.”
“You’re going to be a great dad,” Kenna assured him, placing her hand on top of his. “You prove to me every day what a remarkable man you are. You are nothing like your father, if you were, I would never have fallen in love with you.”
“I just want to get it right,” he told her, “I want our child to have everything I never did.”
“They will,” Kenna assured him, “including a wonderful father, who is going to spoil them rotten and drive me crazy and we’ll teach them to love and respect themselves and to never try and stab one another.”
End
