Fic: Hypocrisy

[meridian_rose]

Title: Hypocrisy
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Kat/ High Queen
Pairing/Characters: Honor, Kat, mentioned Cal/Ryan
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 692
Prompt: For the writerverse prompt 'hypocrisy'
Beta: Thanks to dorothydeath for her input on the first draft. Any errors in this final version are my own responsibility.
Summary: Honor doesn't think members of the Tour should be romantically involved. Kat thinks he's a hypocrite.
Warnings: None


Kat sat on a boulder to pull on her boots. It promised to be a pleasant day, with a cloudless sky above her and a warm breeze teasing her hair.

"Kat," Honor said, wandering over to her. He glanced around to make sure they were alone. Everyone else was still getting ready to depart. Kat ran one finger around the rim of her left boot to settle it more comfortably against her skin. She hoped this wasn’t going to be a lecture.

"You do know that Cal and Ryan are sleeping together?"

Kat nodded and picked up her other boot, more relaxed now she knew Honor wasn't upset with her. "Yes. Cal hasn't mentioned it to me but they're not being particularly discreet."

To her surprise, Honor said grimly, "I don't like it."

Kat stared up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. What possible reason could Honor have for disapproving of such a union?

"I like Ryan," she said, choosing a neutral statement to hopefully prompt a further statement from Honor and find out where this was going.

"I like him too," Honor said. "But it's inappropriate."

Kat fiddled with her second boot until it was securely fastened, giving her time to think. "It's inappropriate to have sex while on the Tour?" she asked archly.

Honor turned his eyes heavenward. "I'm not trying to start a fight," he said. "This isn't about you or anyone else having sex per se. Cal can sleep with every barmaid and stable boy between here and Fairfax if he wants to. Just not with Ryan."

"Why?"

"Are you being deliberately obtuse?"

Kat got to her feet, drawing herself up to her full height. "No. You're the one being evasive. You say you value plain speaking, so speak plainly!"

Honor shook his head. "It's a common military practice that lovers should not serve alongside each other."

"I see. You think it is inappropriate for any member of the group to harbour romantic feelings for another member of the group," Kat clarified. It wasn't a practice strictly enforced by the Citadel's forces any more, although a number of kingdoms did have a similar policy. She thought it was a unnecessary interference in people's private lives and refused to have any part of it, something Honor had apparently forgotten.

Honor nodded, thankful for her understanding. "Yes."

His relief was to be short lived. Kat stared at him. "Really?"

Honor frowned. "Yes."

"Any member of the group," Kat intoned, her hand casually indicating Honor. "For any other member of the group."

Honor had the decency to look chastened, at least momentarily. "That's different."

"How? Explain it to me in a way that doesn't make you sound like a hypocrite." There was a clear challenge in her words.

Honor gestured helplessly. "Ryan needs for you to be his main priority."

"So it would be all right if I were sleeping with Ryan?"

"No! Yes! I…dammit Kat, stop being so ridiculous!" Honor paced around her.

Kat glared at him, arms akimbo. "So you think interfering in someone's personal life will somehow make them more concerned for my welfare rather than less? Honor, Cal would have talked to me if this were serious; it may well be over tomorrow for all we know. Regardless, I forbid you to separate them."

That brought Honor to a standstill. "Are you giving me an order?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes." Kat held his gaze. He may be her closest friend and most trusted ally, but she was still the High Queen and his superior. She tried to reason with him by reminding him that she rarely used, let alone abused, this position with regards to him. "How often do I give you a direct order? Let alone one that you disagree with?"

Though the answer was seldom, Honor refused to acknowledge this. "I think it's a mistake."

"Your concern is noted." Kat began to head back to the group. To lighten the mood she asked mischievously, "Do you remember the last order I gave you?"

Despite himself, Honor's lips quirked into a smile. That, at least, had been an order he'd been keen to obey.

Comments

[eternal-moonie.livejournal.com]

You're sure a busy bee!

AWESOME story!

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D

I am! I still have two more drabbles for writerverse, the Vampire Diaries land end of phase challeges, and the hurt/comfort bingo amenesty fic to do by the end of the month :D

[hrhrionastar.livejournal.com]

Aww, I like that Honor's the one being unreasonable for once :D He always seems so in control.

"Do you remember the last order I gave you?"

Despite himself, Honor's lips quirked into a smile. That, at least, had been an order he'd been keen to obey. Ooh, now I'm all curious ;)

[meridian_rose]

In the first draft it ended after Kat pointed out the hypocrisy and during the beta, Anna suggested Honor had a point, while I, like Kat, thought he was being unreasonable as well as hypocritical. His devotion to Kat can/will cause him to act recklessly on occasion!
So I expanded on it here where they're both partly right but Kat has the final say. I'm not even sure what the last order was yet, but I wanted to hint it was something fun so as to lighten the mood :D

[brontefanatic.livejournal.com]

I always love Kat fics.

This one brought up some interesting points. At first, I actually tended to agree with Honor. It's a delicate subject. Usually when soldiers or police officers are married to each other, they are separated during their hours on duty.

But I could also see Kat's view that she shouldn't interfere.

It really made me think - good job.

[meridian_rose]

I always love Kat fics. Aw, thank you!

The Tour is about a year long and these people are going to only see each other for most of that, and be heavily reliant on each other. I think it's foolish to suggest people shouldn't become close, and in Honor's case, completely hypocritical. I do want to delve more into this because how Kat deals with those around her, her friends, allies, and enemies, is something I'm increasingly interested in showing.

Thanks, as always, for reading and taking the time to comment :D

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I've missed it when you posted. O_O

I love this piece and the changes that you made, bb! :D Also now I'm dying to know more about that last order... Though I guess I can imagine some possibilities there... ;D

When will we be having Kat discussion again? :D

[meridian_rose]

You were having a rough time when I edited it so I didn't want to ask you to beta it again. It's better for your input on the first draft though :D Honor is still being a hypocrite but at least they have a more serious talk about it.

IDK. I have so many things on the go again. I am the Queen of Unfinished Fic right now! And just signed up to kink bingo too :D