Of Crows and Songbirds

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck—

Tadaaki had a dying fish in his stomach, flopping every which way. He stared at Bay, stricken. This was it. He was getting arrested. Tortured. Oh fuck.

What had Ash heard?

The curt way they were both acting. Like he was inconveniencing them by making them torture him.

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck—

If he’s here, he’s not with Ky. That thought brought him a certain measure of comfort. Although they’d already blown their chances for him to go down alone. If he was a threat and she’d come with him from the same master, then she was, too. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

How could he keep the heat off her? Get it off himself as well? Could he throw it back on Aleth? Aleth would know what to do. He always knew what to do. Could- could they - he needed help. He wasn’t used to keeping secrets. He was his muscles and occasionally his eyes; never his mouth. Never. He wasn’t trusted with secrets because he shouldn’t be. He was too stupid. Too cowardly.

He belatedly looked at Ash. “…yes…sir?”

Gods.

"Both your companions said the name of the merchant was Ryken Vosroy, not Neff," he said. "They insisted on it."

(Gaius and his Vosroy)

Tadaaki blinked at him. Why would they have done that? That didn’t make any sense at all. They all agreed on Neff. Why would they change the story and not tell him?

(Never was there a more a dastardly ploy
Than that of Lord Ash and his Vosroy)

"Why did you tell me the name was Neff if it's Vosroy?" he asked.

“It’s… it’s not, sir?” He said bewilderedly. This was so confusing. “His name is Neff.”

"Then why did both of the others claim it was Vosroy?" He glanced at Bay, who merely looked down his nose at Tadaaki without any emotion in his face.

“I…” he couldn’t tear his eyes off Bay. “I don’t know, sir. I swear it. His name is Neff.”

"You remember what I said to you before about lying?" Gaius paced to stand directly beside Bay. "You're the only one who deviated. Did you forget part of the story or did they leave you out of the final decision?"

“I-I-“ Tadaaki looked at Gaius then back at Bay, terrified. Gods. Godsgodsgods. “I’m not… lying. I… I don’t understand. I swear it.”

"And yet." He tapped his cane slightly. "We have a problem, wouldn't you agree?"

His gaze went to the cane, each tap an ominous thump in his gut. Stick to your alibi. Stick to your alibi. Stick… he let out a shaky breath.

"So what do you suggest we do with the odd one out?" he asked. "Captain Bay has offered to free up his chamber for a day or two. We could take that route if you prefer."

A shudder ran through Tadaaki and he closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath.

He had to do this.

He had to.

If he broke from his alibi, Aleth would skin him alive.

But. Well. If he insisted too hard, convinced Ash he was telling the truth, then he’d go after Ky for lying. That would be even worse.

“Please.”

"I can review the others, of course," he said, glancing toward Bay. "They seemed quite sure, though. I have no doubt they'll insist they were correct, which leads me to wonder why they dropped you out if they knew you would be a weak link."

Had they?

But how?

They’d all been together until last night. And they hadn’t seen each other since. Unless Aleth and Ky somehow saw each other today? But why would they change the alibi without telling him? Didn’t they know this could happen?

“…I’m very confused,” he said weakly. “… did they say why?”