54. Proof (1/1)

spoilers up to 4x06

inspired in part by something moggiepillar over on tumblr said.

disclaimer: not mine.

bertrand was doing his best. really, he was. he'd been on his best behaviour since the sethius incident, and vlad still didn't trust him.

"the only person i trust is erin!" the words rang in his ears long after vlad had slammed the door downstairs, long after he'd finished with being threatened by ramanga, even after the chosen one had returned and he'd told him about the ramanga plot. erin? she'd betrayed him more than anyone else in the house, really – secrets layered under lies on top of more secrets – so why couldn't vlad see that?

he'd proven himself over and over since his one solo mutiny, but the chosen one still demanded proof of everything he said. the discs for the heat-sensor had been wiped; wasn't that suspicious enough to earn him just a little credibility? then the plot against his life... he would have thought it was obvious that he wouldn't just completely change his mind about the blood-binding for the sheer fun of it. but no, vlad demanded proof.

bertrand backed out of the ceremony, glad after all that jonno had been chosen as best man instead of him. he could never have got away otherwise, however annoyed he'd been at the time. bertrand was his best friend, his closest ally. how could one mistake have changed all that?

he was on vlad's side, til the very end. now all he had to do was prove it.