theshcdowman:
The general mood grows increasingly more somber, as the three of them work out the plot they’ve all been pulled into. Whoever it is that’s done this had to be close to both brothers, known them somehow during their youth and still to a certain extent now to know that pulling Shadow in would leave them successful in getting Dulce. It’s just as the list of possible names in his head begins to narrow down when he feels Dulce’s hand land on his knee, and he sees he’s worked it out. Covering his hand with his own and giving it a small squeeze, he encourages him to go on, whatever enemy this is, he’s certain the three of them could face them together.
The thought that Ducle’s father could do something like this to his sons is a hard pill to swallow, to imagine that someone could ever put their own family through this was difficult for someone like him- someone whose family had always had a tight loyalty amongst each other. He doesn’t question Dulce’s conclusion though, not in the slightest, it all made perfect sense when laid out now, even if the answer was such a dark one.
“I do have to hand it to dear old dad, he really outdid himself this time,” Claudius sighs, before looking up to the two of them. “So then, now that we know whose behind this, what should we do about it now? I suppose simply ignoring him won’t do this time.”
Shadow remains quiet as the question lingers in the air, because he doesn’t feel like its his move to determine. This was Dulce’s and Claudius’s father, this is their decision. No matter what they choose he would go along with it of course, which is a sentiment he tries to convey silently as his thumb strokes the top of Dulce’s hand where it still laid on his knee.
“It’s your decision- both of yours,” he says after a beat, although his gaze is fixated on Dulce. He was not afraid of a fight with Bête Noire if it came down to it, but he’s Dulce’s father, he wouldn’t move against him unless Dulce asked him to. “I’ll be by your side no matter what you decide to do.”
...
He feels infinitely lucky that he has Shadow at his side through this, especially with this difficult realization. His hand covering his own is grounding, and silently reassuring, something that says he’ll continue to be in this through it all, if Dulce wants him there. He’s not sure how he would manage to cope with what’s come to light now, the reality of having to face his father again, and this time likely do the very thing that he and his brother hadn’t been capable of last time, if he was on his own. The circumstances of his life now, even not factoring in Shadow’s presence, are wildly different than the last time, of course, but he’s not certain he’s far enough removed from them that this wouldn’t send him into a spiral of horrible decisions if not for knowing he has someone to hold onto through it.
It’s clear the moment it’s in the air that it’s a correct assumption, that no one else could be behind this other than their father. A cruel, self-serving plot, just more proof that he’s always seen his sons as objects to serve his own purposes, and not family to love, and look after. It’s not a surprise, but it doesn’t make it feel any better to have the proof that nothing has changed in the slightest. At least their mother seemed to realize the harm she did when they were young, at least she found a way out for them, and found a way to be better, even if perhaps to the outside fostering her son’s career as a supervillain doesn’t seem like good parenting. He’s glad that at least this time it doesn’t seem like their father’s trying to drag her into the mess. No, it’s just theirs to take care of.
But that begs the exact question that Claudius puts voice to, what do they do about it.
Dulce lets the silence linger for a moment, frowning deeply, considering the answer. There’s no question in his mind of what the answer is, but it’s still not an easy thing to consider. Shadow’s thumb brushing the back of his hand, though, gives him a little more strength in the choice. And he’s offered even more, when Shadow speaks, reaffirms that he’ll be there no matter what the decision is. The words are simple enough, but they nearly overwhelm him, not so used to being given so much, being shown that sort of loyalty, that sort of care.
“Thank you,” he says quietly, looking at Shadow for a moment. He turns his hand over where it rests on Shadow’s knee, so that he can intertwine their fingers, accept the strength offered. He’s known since their last encounter with their father that this is where things would ultimately lead someday, he’s known since that sickly smile his father gave them when they’d managed to defeat him. It doesn’t make the thought any easier to swallow, though, even if he’s been prepared for this choice for several years now.
“No, we can’t ignore him any longer,” Dulce says finally, with a sigh, eyes moving to Claudius. He can tell that he already knows the answer, too. “We’ll give him what he wants. If he wants a fight, we’ll give him one. Except, unlike last time, we’ll do what we must to make certain he can’t do anything like this again. To anyone.”
Claudius lets out a sigh, as he leans back in his seat, giving a nod. Difficult as it is to consider, difficult as it will be to do, there’s no mistaking the hint of relief in the air, even Dulce would admit that. “Well, then, I suppose we have some planning to do then, yes?”









