Chapter Text
It had been a long time since a trial had been so troublesome for the Iudex. Of course, it wasn’t the court proceedings themselves that were the issue, but more so the accused. Alexandre Dubois, a street fighter from Fleuve Cendre. There had been an illegal fighting ring beneath the Court of Fontaine for some time now, and the Maison Gardiennage had a file running on it since its early days. Yet, somehow, the fighters had managed to stay just out of their reach each time.
Neuvillette had considered sending some of the Marechaussee Phantom to lend a hand when the case suddenly hit a major break. One of the fighters had killed another, but it hadn’t been in the ring. Alexandre Dubois had killed one of his fellow fighters, Theo Belrose, after he’d lost to them. To their knowledge, Alexandre had been the reigning champion until the night he lost. A witness had found Belrose’s body in an alleyway, his face almost unrecognizable. Alexandre had beaten him with his bare hands before strangling the life out of him. He’d used so much force that Theo’s neck had nearly been shattered.
The problem they had now was Alexandre’s temperament. His need to fight, his bloodlust, had become an extreme issue for the Iudex. They could barely hold a trial because of how he had been acting in the courtroom. Neuvillette could feel a migraine building behind his eyelids. He sighed, rubbing at his temples as he shifted in his seat. Paperwork was spread across his desk, all of it pertaining to his recent case.
Getting the prisoner to the Fortress safely was going to prove an issue. It was more so for the guards than anyone else. Part of his concern also fell on when Alexandre entered the Fortress. The Pankration Ring was a point of entertainment for the inmates and many people would partake in the fights. He had even heard about a particular Fortress Administrator joining every once in a while.
Neuvillette had thought about keeping him in isolation during his sentence and wanted to bring it up to Wriothesley. Speaking of the Duke, he was late. Just as the Iudex was about to get up and look for him, there was a knock at his office door.
“Enter,” he called.
The door swung open, revealing the slightly late and smiling dark-haired man.
“Hello, Monsieur Neuvillette,” he greeted as he walked further into the office.
Lilac eyes glanced at the grandfather clock next to his desk. A gloved hand tapped his desk impatiently.
“Hello to you too, your Grace. Is there a reason you’re late?”
Wriothesley made a strangled sound as he dropped into the chair across from him, clearly not anticipating the Chief Justice’s question.
“Uh, right about that.” A light dusting of pink appeared on the Duke’s cheeks as icy eyes looked around nervously. “Yeah, I don’t have an excuse for that.”
Neuvillette sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment. When his gaze returned to the young man across from him, he was met with a nervous smile.
“Well, I’m here now,” the ravenet said, “so let’s talk. This is about the Alexandre Dubois trial, right?”
“Right,” the Iudex answered, “He’s proving to be a rather troublesome individual.”
“What, like me?” Wriothelsy teased.
The older man glared, putting his papers down. “I’m afraid he’s much worse than you, Wriothesley. ”
The Duke huffed, leaning back in his chair. He leaned on one arm and brought up a leg to rest on the other, his other hand falling to hold his ankle as he tapped his foot.
“Okay, okay,” the Administrator replied, “I’m done. But why is this guy causing you such a problem?” He tilted his head to the side as he studied Neuvillette, “I haven’t seen you this worked up over a case, well, ever.”
“That is because you haven’t met him,” the white-haired man explained, “He has a habit of attempting to fight every Garde he’s come across, going so far as to challenge me from across the courtroom.”
Wriothesley stifled a laugh, his hand covering his mouth. “Wait-wait, he asked to fight you?”
The Iudex responded with a flat look, which only caused the other to lose his composure further.
“Hah, I’m sorry that’s- it’s not funny,” the Duke wheezed. “So, he wants to throw hands with everyone he sees. I can see how that can be an issue, but why?”
The older man raised a brow. “Did you read the files I sent over?”
“Oh.” Wriothesley stiffened in his seat, cold eyes going wide. “I knew I was forgetting something.”
Neuvillette was about two seconds from taking the Duke outside and tossing him in the nearest fountain.
“Wriothesley-”
“Listen, listen, it’s been a rough week, okay?” the ravenet tried to explain. “I can read over it real quick if you have it.”
Sighing, the Iudex handed the other man one of the papers from his desk. He watched as Wriothesley read through the information. The light from the window behind Neuvillette lit his office with a soft glow. It made the younger’s eyes look almost silver as they quickly flitted about the page. He looked nearly ethereal, with dark brows pinched in concentration as he processed what the judge had written. Dark locks fell forward, causing the Duke to huff and push them to the side, not that it did much to help. Wriothesley’s tongue peaked out as he ran it over his bottom lip before pulling it between his teeth.
Neuvillette was hit with the sudden urge to reach across the desk and replace the dark-haired man’s teeth with his own.
Wait… what?
He’d never viewed Wriothesley like that before. In fact, he’d never had those thoughts about a human in his lifetime. While he understood the basics of human romance and courtship, it was never something that interested him to try. He did find some of their traditions and habits interesting as something to read about in his free time but not to engage in, before now that is.
For some reason, unbeknownst to him, the Iudex wanted to caress Wriothesley’s face. Neuvillette wanted to shower him in affection and hold him close, far away from the prying eyes of others. He wanted more than he had in centuries. Ancient instincts rose to the surface to claim and horde, to keep his treasure away from all that would do him harm.
Before him, sunlight lit up tanned skin, following the contour of the Duke’s face. Here, he looked more like a sovereign being than Neuvillette felt. Shadows traced scarred flesh in a way the Iudex could only dream about.
Wriothesley shifted, the sound of shuffling fabric and softly clinking chains ensuing. Blinking, he placed the paper back on the desk. He looked up, steel eyes sparkling as he tilted his head back.
“So, he’s some sort of adrenaline junkie or a sadist.”
Neuvillette closed his eyes, taking a moment to collect himself.
“Correct. I’m worried about how he may react in the Fortress.”
The Duke frowned as he leaned forward in his chair, resting his chin on his intertwined hands. “Well, I don’t tolerate that kind of behaviour.”
“I’m aware of your stance,” the judge commented, “but he isn’t the type to listen to authority. And he’ll most certainly be an obstacle for the other inmates.”
“I’m assuming you have a suggestion?” Wriothely noted.
“Quite. There is a chance you’ll have to keep him solitary from the other prisoners. He doesn’t play well with others, and I’d rather keep from incessant infirmary visits due to his behaviour.”
Lilac eyes studied the Fortress’ Administrator intently. The younger man would likely refuse, but it was worth a shot. Keeping the other prisoners safe was something they both had in common, even if they went about it in different ways.
“I don’t know, Monsieur.”
Like he said, worth a shot.
“The Fortress is supposed to be a place where Fontaine’s outcasts can reinvent themselves, and that policy holds for everyone.” Wriothesley tapped the side of his face thoughtfully. “I don’t think it would be fair for me to exclude him from that.”
He sighed, leaning forward on his desk. “I had a feeling you would say that,” Neuvillette admitted. “In that case, then I ask that you be extra cautious with him. I’d rather avoid unnecessary injuries.”
The younger man shot him a smirk, “Can do, my dear Iudex.”
The judge rolled his eyes in response to the nickname. “Well, unless you need anything else, I see little reason to keep you your Grace.”
“I should be getting back to the Fortress,” Wriothesley remarked, “I’ll see you another time then, Monsieur Neuvillette.”
The Iudex nodded as he watched the other get up to leave. The thud of heavy boots and the soft clinking of chains haunted the Sovereign for some time after.