Caspian/Edmund: That's The Deal

[clovenbuttercup]

Title: That's The Deal
Character(s)/POV: Caspian X
Pairing: Caspian X/Edmund Pevensie
Rating: T
Notes: A blend of film- and book-verse elements.  I’m thinking in terms of film-verse casting, and (to an extent) setting, but dating things according to this timeline.  This is set roughly a week after Ramandu’s Island, during Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  The text of the cut is a line from the film Shadowlands, and the title/summary are adapted from it.
Disclaimer: Characters you recognise belong to C. S. Lewis.
Summary: Joy now, pain later; that's the deal.

He cries in his sleep, his head buried against your shoulder; he’s done so every night since Ramandu’s island.  You hold him in your arms in the hammock the two of you have shared since becoming lovers months ago; it’s too painful to know he's suffering and not try to offer comfort.

Both of you sense your time together is running out; neither of you can bear the thought of parting.

Joy now, pain later; that’s always been the deal.  You’ve always known this was coming.  It’s just that neither of you thought ‘later’ would be here quite so soon.

Comments

[magical-sid.livejournal.com]

Oh another great one. And so, so sad :( these two will always break my fangirlheart.

[clovenbuttercup.livejournal.com]

Oh another great one.

Thank you!

And so, so sad :(

It's actually two stories in one, which I've only just realised.  On the surface, it's about how Ed and Caspian will soon have to part, but the subtext is that Ed's crying in his sleep because in meeting Ramandu's daughter he's seen the future and he knows/suspects the Star is his replacement.  (Whether either he or Caspian want her to be his replacement is of course entirely irrelevant.)

I'm considering writing a conversation between the two of them about it, but I'm not sure I want to feed this particular plot-bunny; there's a point where angst (which I love) becomes basic mental cruelty (which I don't), and I think this would cross the line.

What d'you think?

these two will always break my fangirlheart.

IKR?  My other OTP is Remus/Sirius, and before I fell in love with Caspian/Edmund I thought they were the most heart-breaking couple I'd seen.  Boy, was I wrong ...

[magical-sid.livejournal.com]

On the surface, it's about how Ed and Caspian will soon have to part, but the subtext is that Ed's crying in his sleep because in meeting Ramandu's daughter he's seen the future and he knows/suspects the Star is his replacement.

I have read it again with that background and oh dear...even more heartbrek.

I'm considering writing a conversation between the two of them about it, but I'm not sure I want to feed this particular plot-bunny; there's a point where angst (which I love) becomes basic mental cruelty (which I don't), and I think this would cross the line.

I totally get what you mean. Still the idea of a conversation about this is a good one.

[clovenbuttercup.livejournal.com]

I totally get what you mean. Still the idea of a conversation about this is a good one.

Yeah.  I have an idea or two that mightn't be as bad as I thought, so I'll see if I can get one of them to grow legs ...