The Right Question 3: Loyalty

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Crusade (The Right Question)
Chapter Summary: Gideon comes up with a good question this time.
Word Count: 515
Rating: Teen
Ship is Gideon/Galen but it's more of a pre-ship than anything; Gideon is definitely attracted to Galen in this one though

           Gideon barely manages not to yelp when he enters the main room of his quarters to find Galen curiously examining everything.  It feels oddly intimate, to know the technomage’s hands have been over more than a few objects in the room.  Generally, Galen appearing out of thin air would be business as usual, but the fact that he’d barely just gotten out of the shower and gotten dressed coupled with that intense blue-eyed stare makes him tense in a way he usually isn’t with the Technomage around.  And for a man who plans his entrances and exits quite carefully, coupled with that knowing smile, it’s likely that all of this was calculated to put him off his game, though, perhaps, it’s doing so in a different way than the man intended.
           “I gather you have a question for me.”
           Matthew takes a breath to shrug off the shock.  This is the first proof he’s had that his plan is working.  It’s more than mere curiosity that’s brought Galen back this time.  He’s actually enjoying their little game.  Which, of course, is exactly what he’d wanted.
           He’d cheated, a little.  Asked Dureena about what kind of questions Galen would be likely to answer.  She had, quite honestly, suggested that he’d be unlikely to answer anything with a response resembling a real one before a thought occurred to her—that he’d once mentioned his question was ‘why’.  Matthew suspects it has more to do with love lost and an anger at the universe than anything remotely helpful, but it did get him thinking about how to reformulate his question from his dream—and if Galen hadn’t actually been around to hear that one, so much the better.  “Why aren’t you telling me?”
           Galen smiles approvingly.  It’s hard to tell whether he’s approving of it as a follow-up question or by itself, but then, Matthew suspects he will never know for sure if that was really Galen in his dream, even if he asks.  “Some questions need to be answered by another, but I have the feeling you could resolve this one on your own.”
           Interesting.  That probably means that while he might not have the puzzle pieces for the specific, he has enough to piece together the general reason.  “Probably, but I still want to hear your answer.”
           The technomage’s eyebrow raises, but he obediently considers his next words.  “Because, like you, I have my own oaths.  Because I feel that would force you to make a decision you’re not ready to make.”
           Loyalties, Gideon grasps.  He’s talking about loyalties.  “That’s a funny thing for someone to say who asked me who I serve.”
           Galen narrows his eyes ever so-slightly, canting his head just so, as if hearing something Gideon can’t—which is definitely possible, given technomage magic, and sets down the knick-knack.  “There’s a difference between asking you to contemplate the question and forcing you to make a decision.”
           “Captain, we need you on the bridge,” Matheson’s strained voice comes through the intercom, and Galen walks to the door, waving for Gideon to go first.
           “Coming?”