Ficlet: Monster vs. Monster (Vorkosiverse/Unexpected Diversions)

[jeriendhal]

"Milord, you should be in bed," Sgt. Bothari rumbled, picking the nine-year old up out of his corner seat in the transfer station lounge, where he'd been watching the diplomatic buffet dinner for over an hour.

"I'm sorry, Sergeant," Miles said contritely, wishing his bodyguard hadn't woken up and gone looking for him. The Polians at the party had been interesting enough, but it was the Jacksonian who had casually sat down beside him that had been the real prize of the evening.

He was short for one thing, which was always an interesting change of pace, given the usual tall build of Barrayarans, Miles excepted. He'd also been modded at some point, sharp tips added to his ear, poking out from the long reddish-brown hair that fell over his bare shoulders. He'd also seemed completely oblivious to the fact that while every one else at the party was dressed in their best finery, he was only wearing a pair of loose, billowy silk pants and a heavy steel collar around his neck. Even the man's feet were bare. An indentured Jacksonian servant, obviously, belonging the tall, dark skinned woman with the horns at the other end of the room. But he certainly didn't act like a servant, wandering around the party with an amused, detached air that reminded Miles strongly of his mother.

"Oh, is is past the child's bedtime?" the man asked, smiling. "Please don't be too hard on him. He's proved to be the most interesting conversationalist at this dreadful party."

Sgt. Bothari settled Miles across his shoulders, a low growl emerging from his throat as he said, "You stay away from him."

"I assure you, I have the child's best interests in mind," the man said, unperturbed by the sergeant's threatening tone. Usually when Bothari got like this, even Grandfather backed up.

"You stay away," Bothari repeated.

"We were just talking, Sergeant," Miles protested, as his bodyguard stomped toward the door, circling towards it so the elfin man was never out of his sight.

"You stay way from him, Lord Miles. You have to stay away from him," Bothari said, ducking through the door and heading out into the corridor. His pace was nearly a run, jouncing Miles in seat as he headed as rapidly as he dared back to the diplomatic suite they were staying in.

"Why, Sergeant?"

"Don't like his eyes."

"What, that they were green?"

"No, that they looked like Count Vorru..." Bothari paused, pressing his palm hard against his temple.

"Are you okay, Sergeant?" Miles asked in worry.

"I'm fine, milord. But you stay way from that one." Bothari let out another growl. "I've seen his like before."

Comments

[aynne-witch.livejournal.com]

wonder what was in those green eyes This Time?

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Pure Evil. This is Tez we're talking about.

Or maybe he was just seriously bored and then amused by Miles' pointed questions.