The Apology
Story by Lonelyrider on SoFurry
Afraid of losing his beloved woman to his flaws, James breaks down & begs her to stay with him, but unfortunately for him, his hot-headed father sees his outburst, & punishes him mercilessly for his perceived weakness.
The Apology
By Lonelyrider
Lonely was pouring herself a big mug of hot Nilgiri tea in her little outdoor rose garden. Across from her, herbal fruit tea for her mother Joan was icing as Lonely awaited her mother's arrival, putting out a plate of cookies for them to share. She sang a favorite song to herself as she made everything perfect with a smile. Lonely heard heavy wingbeats and the sun was blocked out; she shaded her eyes and waved with a smile and kiss blown to her big hefty mortal angel boyfriend, who hovered on big black wings and landed vertically, throwing up a windy wake as he did so like a helicopter and blowing back her thick black hair. His wings ruffled behind him as he landed with a thud, shaking the tea table and making her ornate china rattle.
"Darling, fear not, it's only I. Look who I found at the arena, baby girl!" James presented Lonely with her baby boy doll whom had been a gift from her dear girlfriend, along with a pretty lace carry basket and a bunch of new baby clothes for him; James had taken the care to dress baby Brock the doll in a cute blue bonnet and matching onesie.
"Oh Jamesy, you've found Brock! Oh, I've been so worried!" Lonely cuddled the doll with delight, looking at him with an adoring girlish smile; he folded his burly arms and puffed out his chest proudly; but it was a cover, truthfully, he felt anything but big. Both her boyfriend and ex boyfriend had sustained many injuries when what was supposed to be a friendly joust and battle at the local faire got out of control, fueled by the two's secret mutual jealousy over her. Lonely was grateful that thankfully, the battle healers had restored both men to full health; physically. What she niavely missed was that emotionally, they were anything but.
"Jamesy, would you care to join my mother and I for afternoon tea? I'd be happy to make you something more masculine to eat my love." Lonely offered kindly, as she set down a mushroom quiche to cool on the table with a side salad. James fidgeted and wouldn't meet her eyes, which was unlike the usually sweet-natured brute. "Darling, are you all right?" Lonely asked, coming towards him. James cleared his throat, trying not to betray how guilty he was feeling, but he was losing; she could see right through him.
"Ahem, why thank you. I'd love some lunch baby, I'm famished."
Lonely could tell something was bothering him, he was normally attentive and doting with her. He laid back in his chair and put his boots on her seat, but she didn't chide him, just nodded and spread her pretty dress.
"Yes my love, I'll fix you up something hearty."
James was watching her trying to do it in secret, but she'd seen him leaning over as she made him cuts of warmed ham and a cheese and spinach fritatta. She added warm buttered bisquits and came outside with his plate, sliding it in front of him with a gentle kiss on his bearded cheek.
"Enjoy, my angel." Lonely said; she saw his eyes betray him for a moment and he cleared his throat and went back to the uncharacteristic false bravado.
"Ahh yes, much more to my liking. Thank you." He said, and ate in silence, still not looking at her. Lonely watched him with a worried but kind smile, she held her baby doll and rocked him, which did elicit a purr from him watching it; it always melted his heart seeing her take such good care of her dolls. Lonely smiled at him again and poured him some hot tea, making it the way he liked it, he drank it without a word; now she really was worried, it was so unlike him to be this quiet. Niether of the two had spotted him yet, but James' dark warlock father had just teleported onto the scene, and overheard what happened next as he strode their way, his long cape flowing and staff glowing.
"Jamesy, oh my goodness, darling, what's wrong!" Lonely gasped; James sobbed into her dress skirt, shaking down on his knees despite being at least three times her size; the emotional dam had finally burst, and he couldn't seem to control himself.
"Oh I'm a...a horrid boyfriend, simply abysmal! I made you lose Brock, cause I lost control of myself from dad's potion. I failed both him and you! Then I got into a terrible brawl with Sir Wisbey, someone you care about, and I....I...I....I let that horrible minotaur come near you in the first place, oh Lonely I've failed you baby! I've failed you....I don't deserve you! I.." James' beautiful grey eyes were wide with panic, "I know I have no right to beg this, but please....please....oh please don't leave me! I love you! Please don't go Lonely, let me man up, I'll...."
"Jamesy, baby!" She started to gush, grasping his face tenderly, his eyes were like a puppydog's looking up at her, tears streaming down his handsome face. "I wouldn't do that darling, I love you too! Baby I'm not..mad about those things, we all make mistakes honey, it's okay." She comforted, finding the words, he grasped her dress belt possessively and sobbed, his face purple with abashment that she was seeing this, but he couldn't control it.
"Oh I'm such an embarrassment! forgive my unmanliness, I need to regain my composure, pardon me." He tried to be stoic and fell apart again, she hushed him tenderly, stroking and kissing his hair, which seemed to be working; her big man's sobs eased and he quieted from her tender attention.
"James, that's enough! Stand up boy, wipe that wimpy shit off your face or I'll do it for you!" James' father roughly dragged his equally big son backwards by his relaxed tunic hood, roughing him up and chastising him; James blushed deeply again and stammered but struggled to speak.
"Oh, it's all right Abaddon sir, really, he just needs some love and forgiveness, that's all!" Lonely pleaded sweetly, inviting Abaddon to join them. Just then Lonely's mother Joan arrived riding Sir Wisbey's Fresian charger.
"It most certainly is not! I'll be the judge of that, not you. Come with me, lad. You've had enough tea and cookies and mollycoddling." Abaddon roughly pulled James along, which made Lonely gasp with a covering of her mouth.
"Lonely, I'm sorry baby! I'll be back for supper my love, forgive me! All right dad, I'm coming! Ow!" James winced, as Abaddon literally dragged him off not at all gently.
"Who is that man?" Joan asked Lonely atop her mount still, giving Abaddon a disapproving glare.
"James' father, the mighty sorcerer Abaddon LightningSword." Lonely told Joan, wincing as she watched Abaddon harshly dress down James and then the two disappeared in a ball of fire as Abaddon used his magic to teleport them both away.
James marveled despite his still upset state at the vast swamp Abaddon had brought them to; he flung the iron gates of an ornate mansion wide and pulling the heavy oak doors apart, he roughly shoved his son into the beautiful sofa with a crash, where he landed on his rear in a slight daze.
"We'll discuss your disgraceful lack of virility later, boy. Servants!" Abaddon barked, James blushed and toed his foot bashfully, not happy he'd displeased his dad again, 8 servants of different species and titles responded to Abbaddon's booming call, bowing deeply before him.
"Start a fire!" He demanded, and a few rushed to do so as the others awaited further orders. Abaddon dragged poor James by his huge bulky bicep and gave him a rough tour.
"I'm not entirely in the mood to show you this, after that little display of yours. My connections found me this mansion, and I've acquired it for you. It's not proper to be living with a little female in her home; a man needs his own castle. These servants obey you and me only, and they will bow to your every whim. Food, bathing, cleaning, supplies, all of it. You are the master here. It's much grander than anything your wench provides to you at her tiny stone home. Fit for a LightningSword. I expect you to move in sooner than later, boy." Abaddon roughly threw a beautiful black velvet nightrobe at James, whose face was lit by the fire.
"Dad I...I don't know what to say!" James gasped, shocked and touched at the same time. "I accept, oh, of course!"
"Good. Come here."
Abaddon introduced James, who shook all of their hands in his usual friendly way, to all of his different servants; a chef, maids, gardener, groom & coachman, handyman, and three personal servants. James tipped them all gold coins with a thank you and Abaddon ordered them to keep James' mansion running until he returned shortly to it, two of the men promising to meet James in two days to move his belongings from Lonely's home. James was sad about leaving his girlfriend's cottage, but he didn't want to disappoint his father, so he said nothing. Abaddon roughly steered James outside, the servants bolting the heavy doors and chaining the gate behind them.
"Dad...thank you, I can't wait to show Lonely thi...." James gasped and winced but didn't defend himself, instead putting up with his angry father's brutal manhandling; Abaddon had the nearly 7 foot tall 400 pound musclebound brute by his jaw, his sharp spellcaster nails digging into his son's bearded groomed face, James panted and winced but gave his father more patience than most men would allow. Abaddon dug his nails in harder and James groaned in pain but took the abuse still, hiding tears.
"If you EVER, ever act like that in front of me again, I will immolate you on the spot boy, do you understand me? Your bitch mother might encourage that milquetoast bullshit, but when you're with me, you will grow a pair of balls and conduct yourself like a proper male. Do you understand me?" Abaddon threw his son down hard in the dirt; from inside, the servants watched in secret. James stood up fast, wiping hot tears and biting his quivering lip so hard it drew blood, puffing out his chest and standing erect.
"Yes, father!" He shouted as loudly as he could, military style. This pleased Abaddon and he finally let the poor younger man be.
"Good." Abaddon snarled and turned with a disgusted wave of his purple cloak, he cast a teleportation spell first on himself, and then on his son, taking himself back to his lonely mage tower and returning James to Lonely's stone cottage for dinner with her and her mother, though Abaddon did so with a sneer and feel of his ornate amulet.
"Come, my familiar. We have much work to do." Abaddon told his pet crow in his tower, who flew to his shoulder as they joined the other men in his dark wizard's alliance, who were expecting him.