#gavfredo

[vagrantblvrd]

some prompts for u dear: a fun twist on king au, gav as king and some of the others of his court? whatever ship you’re feeling but idk king gav is always a favorite. boy is smarter and more competent than others give him credit for

Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this one for the last couple of days and it’s a whole ~universe. (Mainly because I am such a sucker for the whole trope of the evil chancellor/coup/DRAMA in a kings au setting, but yes.)

It happens when Gavin’s a child, seven or eight, and his father allows himself to be captured to give his mother and him time to escape.

They use hidden passages and such under the castle that let out near the stables, take his father’s war horse and ride as far as they can before the poor thing needs to rest, but it’s not far enough. So they leave it tethered to a post in a small village, taking care to remove its tack and whatever else might give them away too soon and his mother steals a horse.

She gives him a look when he makes a noise, swallowing up any protests because this is not the time for things like that, knows these are unusual circumstances.

They keep traveling like that for days until they manage to cross the border to a neighboring kingdom through a treacherous mountain pass. They finally stop in some sleepy little village far from the border and while the people there are curious, they have manners, don’t pry too much when news reaches them of what’s taken place. Assume they’re refugees for one reason or another and leave them to their own business.

Gavin’s mother has sold off bits of jewelry and other finery along their way here so they have a little money, enough to get them a room from someone in town long enough for her to find work in a tavern, and things are fine for a little bit.

She works hard to keep them both fed and clothed and when she’s not at work she tells him stories about their kingdom, his father, and so on in their tiny bed while the rain falls outside. Makes sure he continues his schooling with the local children, tells him not to mind them when they look down on him and his threadbare clothes, hand-me-downs from their parents who feel sympathy for this widow and her son.

But then she becomes sick a few years on, and there’s no cure. (Heartbreak, someone tells him, because sometimes a loss is too great.)

There’s no one in the village willing to take Gavin in – too poor, and he’s likable enough, yes, but not one of theirs – so he’s take to a larger town nearby with an orphanage.

Underpaid workers there with too many mouths to feed, too many children to clothe and care for and it’s made them not unkind, exactly, just not caring.

There are children there who are mean and cruel, bully those weaker than them and at first they think Gavin is like that.

He isn’t, though. Small and quiet, far too clever for his own good, but not weak. (A good king is never weak.)

Too small to fight off the larger boys – nearly teenagers – on his own, but there are others who don’t care for bullies. A pair of boys who look enough alike at first glance it would be easy to think they were twins, who fight dirty and whisk Gavin away to some hiding spot of theirs before the adults take notice.

And that’s where Gavin first meets Trevor and Alfredo.

Alfredo loves him immediately, but Trevor is a harder sell. Wary of new people and the like, but it’s not long before Gavin and Alfredo win him over and they become close friends as they grow up in the orphanage together. (Think he’s a bit odd with his accent, the way he speaks – no commoner, Gavin – but he’s quiet and clever and quick to offer a suggestion when they’re up to some small mischief.)

A few years later there’s word of bandits getting bolder, attacking villages and the like. No one knows what they’re after because it’s obvious they’re looking for something – someone – and Trevor and Alfred worry about Gavin when they find out his old village was one of the first attacked.

Gavin makes ~secret plans to leave because he knows they’re after him – doesn’t want to get Trevor and Alfredo caught up in this whole mess.

Doesn’t realize that Trevor’s making similar plans and doesn’t explain why when Alfredo catches him at it, refusing to let him go alone and all that both reluctantly agreeing it would be best to leave Gavin out of it. Think he’ll be safer at the orphanage and that he’s bright enough to look after himself when he ages out.

Before they can put their plans in motion their city gets attacked.

It’s pretty obvious that the attackers aren’t your typical bandits, more organized, better equipment and so on, and Gavin goes missing in the chaos.

Everyone thinks he’s been killed – he’s just a kid and the orphanage was one of the main targets in the attack, burned to the ground and such – so they assume one of the bodies is his.

Trevor takes it hard, thinks it’s his fault even though he doesn’t tell Alfredo why

Trevor and Alfredo run away, get lost in the city’s underbelly and become thieves and the like, dragged in deeper and deeper until someone notices them and thinks they have ~potential and before you know it they’re part of an assassin’s guild.

(Trevor tries to convince Alfredo to stick to thieving, or learn a trade, but Alfredo won’t hear of it. Worried about Trevor after Gavin died because he’s grown colder, more distant and so on.)

There’s also this budding...something between them, which honestly has always been there but neither of them act on it. (They both know something it missing and don’t dare talk about what – who – it might be, because Gavin’s dead, so...)

A few years go by where they get a reputation for being able to pull off assassinations thought to be impossible – they step on a few toes in the guild in the process.

This pair of upstarts the guild master found picking pockets in the marketplace who don’t know their place, have upstaged senior assassins who have too much ego and nowhere near enough skill so the guild master hands them an assignment, someone with a grudge against a storekeeper in the capital city.

Trevor and Alfredo are a little offended at first because this is the kind of assignment handed to the novice assassins, but the way the guild master’s acting and the nature of the assignment itself is super suspicious, right?

She warns them to be careful, something she never does, and gives them the pick of the armory and whatnot and something it definitely up.

They gear up, grabbing weapons and such they didn’t have access to before and head off on their assignment. Go through cities and villages, small settlements the bandits have attacked – the attacks don’t happen as frequently anymore, and Alfredo wonders why that is, Trevor musing about the number of assignments their guild has gotten since they joined. Senior assassins who weren’t threatened by them mentioning there have been more than usual, and maybe the two are connected?

And then they reach the capital city and check in with the assassin’s guild master there (all of them thinking it a bit odd if not wholly unusual their client didn’t go to them directly) and spend the first day there familiarizing themselves with the city.

Wait until night of the second day to see to their assignment, but when Trevor sneaks in the storekeeper is gone.

His son, however, is not, and proves to be something of a capable fighter. The two of them trading blows in the near darkness and Trevor reluctantly impressed with his ability to keep up with him – until Alfredo steps in to put an end to it.

And it’s a terrible idea, sudden impulse that makes Trevor reach for the candle on the table to see the face of the person who’s been able to fight on an even level with an assassin of his ability as long as he did – and it’s Gavin.

!!!

This look on his face, in his eyes, they remember from the orphanage when the bullies caught up to him before Trevor and Alfredo let them know what a bad idea that was.

Defiance and bravery and all that, and clearly he’s expecting them to kill him. Don’t know it’s them with the scarves and masks over their faces, so – against guild rules and all common sense – Trevor pulls them away, and watches the disbelief on Gavin’s face.

Sees the way he glances immediately to Alfredo like of course that’s who Trevor’s partner would be and all three of them are caught in this standoff not knowing what to do next.

So of course that’s when the storekeeper arrives, startling all three of them.

“Friends of yours?”

Gavin looks back at Trevor and Alfredo, blade to his throat and clearly in some form of trouble – it’s clear the storekeeper is armed, will act the moment he gets a chance.

“I’d like to think so,” he says, but times change. (People change.)

Alfredo clears his throat, shares a look with Trevor and puts his blades away, Trevor following suit a beat later, and then it’s all-over awkward.

Gavin is still staring at Trevor and Alfredo, and they’re still staring at him, and the storekeeper just sighs as he goes about making tea because clearly it’s going to be a long night?

Trevor watches him closely – it’s clear the man knows they’re there for him but he doesn’t seem at all ruffled by the presence of two assassins in his kitchen.

After a moment Gavin goes to help, placing four mugs of tea around the small table and looking at the two of them expectantly.

He’s nervous, scared, Trevor knows. Small tells he learned when they were in the orphanage together, but he’s placing some level of trust in the two of them. (Still makes sure to keep himself between the storekeeper and the pair of assassins, though, and that makes him smile a little because it’s very...him.)

The storekeeper gets things rolling, tells them he knows they’re here for him and guesses their client correctly – and instead of sounding worried or even afraid he’s just annoyed.

“Bastard doesn’t have the balls to come after me himself,” he grumps, and Gavin hides his grin behind his mug, because Geoff.

Trevor and Alfredo are like ??? because not the usual reaction to someone sending assassins after them?

But then Geoff looks at Gavin – full-on Dad mode and asks if this is why Gavin wanted him to pay visits to some of their associates in the city earlier.

Gavin can’t meet his eyes, hems and haws and answers the question by not answering it.

“Idiot,” Geoff mutters, and Gavin shoots him a look, which he ignores as he studies the two assassins.

Young, just stupid kids. And he’s heard Gavin’s stories about his childhood, the friends he had at the orphanage before this and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out these are the same people. (In name at least.)

“Well, this changes things, doesn’t it.”

Trevor and Alfredo have no idea what the hell that’s even supposed to mean, but Gavin clearly does.

Looks startled, sitting up with this strange expression on his face.

Geoff sighs, odd smile gracing his lips.

“If they’re getting this desperate, we’ll have to move things ahead.”

Which is how Trevor and Alfredo end up discovering Gavin is the missing(presumed dead) prince to their neighboring kingdom???Geoff is a former castle guard who ~fled to this kingdom with his husband not long after the coup.

Realized the man behind the coup suspected Gavin was still alive and started searching for him following vague clues and whatnot to the orphanage the night it was attacked and used the chaos to spirit Gavin away. (Because plot reasons.)

The made it to this city thinking it would be a better place to hide him than some border village or what have you. Bought a small store to bring in money and set about training Gavin and inadvertently start up a resistance cell???

Gavin snorts at that because there was never a chance they wouldn’t get involved in things being who they are, but Geoff and Jack insist Gavin would have done something stupid that forced their hands, so. Yes.

Jack comes home while Trevor and Alfredo are processing everything they’ve learned, and Geoff sends him to help because Jack’s got packages – foods and whatnot that were given as gifts.

And Geoff, okay. Geoff.

Leans forward, making sure to keep his voice low so Gavin won’t hear him and threatens to kill Trevor and Alfredo if they even think of betraying Gavin. Tells them he’s trusting Gavin right now, but he doesn’t know them. Doesn’t trust them, and they’re assassins.

A respected profession, to be sure, but there are always weasels in any walk of life. The ones who are good at faking morals and the like, and he might be old now, but he’s smart.

Trevor doesn’t seem overly impressed by the threats, but he swears he won’t betray Gavin, as does Alfredo – and when Gavin comes back he knows something happened but no one’s talking, so.

Yes.

They agree to fake Geoff’s death, reporting to the assassin’s guild in the city they’ve completed their assignment and send word to their guild master via carrier pigeon or whatever to prevent arousing suspicion anything is wrong.

And then they get roped into helping with the resistance cell, realize it’s larger than expected as they leave the city and meet with more along the way because it’s past time they retook the throne and all that.

Gavin and Alfredo reconnecting quickly while Trevor takes longer to warm up – partly at the surprise of Gavin being alive after all these years, partly because of the fact he’s the prince? (And a little of Trevor’s own secrets.)

It takes time setting everything in motion. Getting word out to various cells that they’re finally ready to act without revealing themselves.

A lot of time spent traveling, shenanigans in which they run into bandits – real and not – along the way. Gavin, Trevor, and Alfredo getting separated from Geoff and Jack after an attack and having to take shelter in an old farm somewhere until the weather lets up.

Trevor got hurt in the fight while watching Gavin’s back and so Gavin fusses over him while Alfredo looks on in amusement (really, he’s the best adjusted out of everyone in this AU and think Gavin and Trevor are the dumbest smart people he knows).

Trevor studying Gavin and talking quietly, Alfredo standing guard and piping up as they talk about their lives after the attack on the orphanage. Gavin sharing what happened with him, guilty about keeping his secret from them but not wanting to endanger than he already had.

Tells them about his plan to sneak away before the attack happened and Alfredo giving Trevor this look because Trevor has secrets of his own, right? And Trevor stiffly telling Gavin about his plans to sneak away and they’re both just like, so stupid?

Trevor reveals he’s from Gavin’s kingdom as well, has an older brother who was some kind of scholar, a researcher in service to the new king – he scoffs at the title, bitter twist to his mouth because the man is no king, merely a petty bully – who sent Trevor away when things became too dangerous.

Intended to send him to stay with relatives in this kingdom, but there was a bandit attack or something and he ended up in the orphanage where he met Alfredo and later Gavin. (How long he spent thinking Gavin died because the bandits might be looking for him instead and thinking he might be able to do something about the baddie if he became an assassin, sneak into the castle and kill him, reunite with his brother and so on.)

They reconcile, Alfredo a little too smug about things, so of course he gets his comeuppance hen Trevor and Gavin share a look. And Gavin grabs Alfredo into play fight, giddy laughter and this relief that they’re not completely changed by their experiences and Trevor and Alfredo fully throwing their lot in with Gavin and the others.

They meet up with Geoff and Jack a few days later and both of them sense something’s changed in their time apart. See the way Trevor’s cool demeanor towards Gavin has softened, the way he and Alfredo are always at his side and decide to let the three of them figure the rest out for themselves. (Idiots that they are.)

Once they cross the border the extend of the tyrant's abuse of the people is more evident, abandoned farms – some because the farmers couldn’t afford the taxes, some simply burned to the ground when they dares speak out.

It gets worse the closer they get to the capital city, Gavin more and more determined to put things right. (And scared, because what if he fails?)

Trevor getting quieter as he watches Gavin, and Alfredo watching both of them.

They join up with the main resistance cell and spend some time going back and forth deciding a plan of attack, and Gavin speaks up when someone brings out a map of the castle showing hidden passageways and the like.

Asks for a drawing implement and adds to it, the passageways he and his mother used when they escaped. Half-remembered but a better way in to the castle than other routes and it’s decided a small party would be best.

Gavin, Geoff, Jack. Trevor and Alfred – a pair of assassins of their ability will be valuable in this. Jeremy, who smuggled the map out of the castle to the resistance cell given to him from an inside source, and a few others.

They infiltrate the castle and get caught up in an ambush – because of course they do – and Gavin ends up separated from the others while the baddie monologues.

There’s a one on one fight where Gavin manages to hold his own, but then the baddie plays dirty – calls in hidden guards he has to fend off and in the fray he gets hit with a throwing knife that’s been dipped in poison.

Just as the baddie is about to kill Gavin, the others break through the barricaded doors for a last minute rescue.

Trevor and Alfredo take up protective positions around Gavin while Geoff and the others deal with the remaining guards and the baddie.

Geoff gets into a tight spot and suddenly Trevor’s there, killing the guard before he can kill Geoff and then he’s gone again, going after the baddie while Alfredo helps deal with the riffraff.

No one notices Gavin following Trevor and the baddie up to one of the castle towers, especially not Trevor or the baddie. So when the baddie corners Trevor who’s lost his weapons, back to a window, both of them are surprised when Gavin appears.

Distracts the baddie long enough for Trevor to snatch up a dropped weapon and kill the baddie with, the two of them staring in shock when they realize they’ve done it.

Killed the tyrant and cleared the way for Gavin to retake his throne, start setting the kingdom to rights and all that.

Go back down to where the others are to find them mopping up, Geoff and Jack running over to Gavin who collapses. (Still poisoned, btw.)

They fuss over him before Alfredo comes over with the dagger used on him that Alfredo pocketed before the real fighting started. He and Trevor figure out which poison was used and the antidote needed to counter it (plot reasons) and Gavin recuperates with Geoff and Jack taking care of things in the meantime.

Trevor or Alfredo can be counted on to guard over Gavin, and thwart a few assassination attempts while he recovers. (Leave their guild, although neither of them mention it to anyone, especially Gavin.)

Shenanigans, in which Gavin is recognized as the missing (presumed dead) prince and a coronation ceremony happens.

Everything looks like it’s going to have a happily ever after, but Trevor is distracted.

Gavin too busy to notice at first, but Alfredo mentions he doesn’t seem himself and Gavin goes to talk to Trevor. Realizes Trevor’s brother is missing and he’s worried.

Afraid he’d been caught or killed before now, that Trevor’s been wasting time that could have been spent looking for him. (A mole for the resistance within the castle walls for so long, surely he would have been discovered by now.)

So Gavin looks around, all these loyal guards – Geoff’s taken up position as head of the castle guard grumbling all the way. (Has his eye on this particular guard, mouthy brat who could be incredible with more training.)

Knows Trevor, that eventually he’ll sneak off on his own to look for his brother now that things are starting to settle, the people realizing that things are changing for the better, and acts first.

Arranges supplies and equipment, money, for Trevor and Alfredo to go find his brother, because of course Alfredo will go with him. (Leaves a note, telling them to come back when they’re ready to and all the documents that will allow them to travel freely in the kingdom until then. Acting as his personal agents or what have you.)

They’re gone for a long time, following what small clues and whatnot they find along the way. The three of them sending letters back and forth, and finally, finally, they come back, Trevor’s brother in tow.

He’d fled when the baddie realized he was the mole, handed the map to Jeremy and acted as a decoy to allow him to get it to the resistance. Gotten caught up in various shenanigans of his own – fake bandits and the like and thrown into a prison on false charges when Trevor and Alfredo caught up to him.

Got him out using their positions in Gavin’s court and spent some time waiting for him to recover before making back for the capital and the castle.

And in the meantime, Gavin’s installed Jack as his main advisor, takes his counsel seriously as he builds up his staff of advisors and whatnot.

Finds suitable candidates for most, but the role of head researcher/what have you is proving difficult – until, of course, Trevor and Alfredo return with Trevor’s brother.

Clever man with a fascination for redstone and its potential.

There’s a bit of unease within the court at first, people recognizing him as someone who was close to the baddie. Worked his way up the ranks until he became the baddie’s most trusted advisor,  privy to sensitive information he funneled to the resistance when he could.

Worked with operatives like Jeremy and Michael and other key resistance members who vouch for him.

Still, to avoid the appearance of favoritism Gavin sets up a competition between the people vying for the position, and Ryan (because of course it’s Ryan) winds handily. (And while there’s still grumbling, it’s more thoughtful now, and as time passes it fades away when he doesn’t reveal himself to be the traitor his detractors think he is.)

And then, you know.

Trevor becoming Gavin’s spymaster while Alfredo fades into the background, carrying out assassinations and aiding Trevor in his work.

People thinking Gavin’s too young, inexperienced at being a king, but he has Jack and Geoff helping guide him and several others besides. Makes mistakes, yes, but he’s learning, doing his best and his people learn to love him.

Trevor and Alfredo continue to thwart assassination attempts, sniff out dissenters who have plans to start another coup before they gain any traction.

Geoff is clearly training Michael up to take over as captain of the castle guard with Lindsay as his second in command there.

Jeremy shows an interest in redstone - and Ryan, which is absolutely mutual and entertaining to watch play out for everyone else.

(Gavin goes down to their workshop when his duties get to be a little too much, gets drawn into explanations of their current projects and volunteered as an extra pair of hands. Ryan’s tolerant of his questions and curious about the other brazen fool who’s won Trevor’s head so completely. Jeremy just likes having a similarly minded partner in crime.)

After an assassination attempt that comes a little too close, Trevor insists Gavin pick up his training again. (Terrified about what could happen if he doesn’t, if Trevor and Alfredo are too slow, or away dealing with Gavin’s enemies.)

Which of course leads to close quarters combat, and Trevor pinning Gavin who cheats outrageously by kissing him. Takes advantage of Trevor’s surprise to reverse their positions, smug grin on his face and face bright, bright red.

From the exertion, yes, but also at his boldness. Little bit of fear that he’s overstepped, that things have changed between them – but then Trevor’s kissing him back and it’s all very lovely, indeed.

Until Alfredo complain about being left out of things. (He’s been gone for the better part of a week on a mission for Trevor, and this is what he comes home to? Come on, guys.)

Gavin and Trevor sharing a look before they gang up on him, and manage to make up for being so unbearably inconsiderate of him. (Thoroughly.)

And then happily ever after for everyone, because of course it is.

[shadeofazmeinya]

Alfredo doing the "Hmmm, baby girl, I don't know" and having Gavin put on like a fashion show for him and Gavin is all exasperatd "Fredo, it's just a meet, it's not even anything fancy" and Alfredo all fake offended, hand to his chest and gaping "Babe, you gotta dress for the occassion! Wear those skinny jeans, if I gotta watch your ass I want something worth watching" and then at Gavin's arched look, hastily adds, "only if you want, honey" and Gavin rolls his eyes but absolutely picks those

omfg thats absolutely beautiful and i love it! god i really need practice writing fredo because he would have the BEST dialogue. this whole scene is amazing and my new favorite

[shadeofazmeinya]

I'm really into Gavfredo!!! Do you have any headcannons? ✨🌸

i mean im not gonna lie, i don’t have many. i just kinda threw that idea out into the world, but i’ll see what i can do

-they absolutely go shopping together regularly and come back with both high fashion and absolutely gaudy outfits. the other fakes can’t tell if they’re buying the awful ones ironically or because they actually like them. asking them leads to no results

-for some reason the image of them both painting each others nails also comes to mind, chatting whatever latest los santos crew drama they know of. alfredo prefers bright colors but will change the colors up every time while gavin always goes classic gold.

-gavin keeping alfredo company on the coms when he’s out on a long stake-out with his rifle. alfredo doesn’t even break in conversation as he shoots his target. gavin finds it extremely arousing

-neither of them can drive. do not let them drive. please for the love of god.

-gavin meanwhile can at least fly, and there’s been a few times gavin will fly the helicopter with alfredo peaking out with his rifle to shoot down the cops.

-boys can also be soft and more than once they’ve gotten eye rolls and exaggerated vomiting noises from the others as they get caught staring adoringly at the other across the conference table. or making goofy faces at each other when they’re supposed to be paying attention.