Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Conquering Fear	By : emmarae3579 Category: S through Z > Zorro Views: 2149 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro, and do not make any money from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Alejandro came back into the library after Victoria rushed off. He saw the two books laying on the mantle that Victoria had left out of place. Diego had a book on swordsmanship? He shook his head at the irony. You can’t learn everything from books.

“Is everything alright with Victoria?” Alejandro turned to face his son standing at the entrance to the library. His very tall son. Who had a book on swordsmanship. Who never wanted to stand up for anything. Alejandro picked up the other book, this one on martial arts. He stared at Diego for a long time, his brain putting things together in a way that made him proud and furious at the same time. Diego was always at Victoria’s tavern. This morning he’d refused to go because of a book, but what if he’d been licking his wounds from losing an argument with the fiery taverness?

“Did you finish your book?” Alejandro nearly growled. Diego’s brow furrowed at his father’s tone. “Where were you this morning?”

“You saw me, I was in bed.”

“You weren’t in the tavern this morning?”

“Father, if I’d gone to the tavern for breakfast, I wouldn’t have asked for apple pie.”

“How did you know she made apple pies this morning?”

Diego ran his fingers through his hair as Alejandro came closer. Why was his father angry with him now? “I didn’t know, I asked you to get me one if she made some. Why are you angry with me?”

“Take off your shirt.”

Diego reflexively hugged his jacket tighter. “What? Why? I just got dressed!”

“And you have nowhere to be today. Take. Off. Your. Shirt.”

“Can’t I ask why?”

“Because I’m your father!”

What a strange day this was turning out to be. Diego slowly removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, but left it on his shoulders. “What are you looking for?”

Alejandro became impatient with his dawdling son, grabbed the shirt, turned him around and pulled it down so he could look at the back of Diego’s right shoulder. Alejandro jabbed at a bullet shaped scar when he found it.

“Hey! What was that for?” Diego yelped, pulling his shirt back up and backing away from his father. So much for the uninjured side of his back!

“I should beat you senseless and drop you in a heap at Victoria’s feet. Is that where I went wrong? I didn’t spank you enough when you were little? Let you do whatever you wanted?”

Diego retreated under his father’s fury until he ran up against the side of a chair and fell into it, his long legs dangling over the arm of the chair. Alejandro heard some noise behind him and turned to see Felipe backing out of the room. “Freeze!” Alejandro pointed at the boy. “Ah ha!” He shouted when Felipe heard him.

Felipe turned wide eyes to Diego, who was awkwardly trying to gain his feet.

“Madre de Dios!” Alejandro collapsed into the chair Diego had just vacated and put his head in his hands.

Diego and Felipe eyed each other warily, shrugging at each other when neither could tell why Alejandro was so angry. Diego watched Alejandro sit quietly as he buttoned up his shirt.

Why is your shirt undone? Felipe asked.

He told me to take it off! Diego answered.

Why?

I don’t know! He hit me! Diego pulled his shirt down to show where Alejandro had hit him.

Felipe brought a hand to his forehead. Then he made the sign for a gun and pointed it at Diego’s shoulder. Zorro was shot. You have a scar.

Diego had completely forgotten. So he knows?

Felipe shrugged.

Does Victoria know?

Felipe shrugged again and Diego clenched his fists in frustration.

Should I stay or go after Victoria?

Victoria didn’t look mad when she left. Your father looks mad.

Since Alejandro seemed out of steam, Diego cautiously took the chair next to him and sent Felipe away. He scooted the chair back a foot or two before settling, though.

“Would you believe I was shot by accident in Madrid?” Diego tried.

Alejandro sat back in the chair, rested an elbow on the arm and his head in his hand as he looked steadily at his son.

“Does Victoria know?” Diego muttered, staring at his hands.

“Do you even understand how wrong it is that you have to ask that?” Alejandro said after a moment. Father and son watched each other for a long time.

“I didn’t see another choice. Anyone who knew would be in danger.”

“So you decided for all of us and made up your own rules?”

“I didn’t make up my own rules!” Diego defended, standing and pacing the small confines of the library.

“Or was Victoria right? If anyone cared enough they should be able to figure it out and damn them if they can’t?”

“Father, that’s not—“ Diego spun to face his father but he ran out of words. “Is that what she said?” Diego asked miserably.

“No, she didn’t say anything. She just wanted to know why a man who claims to love her only loves her in secret.”

Diego leaned against the mantle and put his head in his hands. “She doesn’t love Diego.”

Alejandro’s heart ached at the pain in his son’s voice. “Have you ever given her the choice?”

Diego stared back at his father for several moments, then decided he needed a distraction. He pushed the secret button and heard the swish of the door in the fireplace opening. Alejandro’s eyes widened when they dropped to the fireplace, and Diego gestured for him to precede him when Alejandro stood.

He watched Alejandro look around the cave, picking up various things. Alejandro stopped at the coat rack which held Zorro’s clothes.

“Father, I need to know what Victoria talked to you about. She wasn’t too happy with Zorro this morning.”

“She has a right to be angry with you,” Alejandro accused.

“So help me fix it. Tell me what to do to fix it! If I lose her, I lose everything.”

“Why didn’t you tell her your identity? You claim to love her but you don’t trust her?”

“Father, I do love her. I do trust her. I was trying to protect her. The woman jumped in front of me to take a bullet meant for me. I couldn’t put her in more danger than she already is in with this alcalde running rampant. She doesn’t even look at Diego. She never sees me as a man when I’m around. She thinks I’m hopeless.”

Alejandro thought for a moment. “You are hopeless.”

“Thanks for the help.” Alejandro’s eyebrows shot up at Diego’s wry tone.

“Go talk to her. I’ll wait.” Diego once again stripped off his shirt, not bothering with the buttons this time.

He spoke while he changed into the legend before of his father’s eyes. “You can talk to Felipe. You’re right. He can hear. He’s known about it from the beginning.” Alejandro picked up the heavy sword from the coatrack. He shook his head as he handed it to his son. He stood by proudly as his bumbling, clumsy son saddled the famous stallion in record time and mounted without the use of the stirrup. “Felipe even named Toronado. Pull the candlestick by the door to get out. I have to get to Victoria in case she’s worked it out, too.”

Before Diego left the cave, Alejandro called him back. “Diego,” He had to dig for the words even though he’d seen the transformation with his own eyes. “I am proud of you, son.”

A little bit of the ache knotted in his chest untwisted. Diego glanced around the cave, at the caballero clothes hanging up waiting for his return, at the exit to the cave…that led to Victoria. He silently lifted his right leg and slipped off the stallion to stand motionless, uncertain again.

Toronado bumped him out of the way, impatient and curious as he walked over to check out Alejandro, who stroked the stallion’s head. Alejandro watched his son—Zorro!—fidget for a few moments. “Diego, she loves you. I know she does.”

They both turned when Felipe slunk into the cave and stood nervously by the stairs. Seeing none of the previous anger in his patron’s face, he slowly approached.

Remember. This is good. You can be happy now. Get married.

Diego accepted a small pouch from Felipe. He knew what was in it, but upended it in his hand anyway. His mother’s wedding ring sparkled in the torchlight against the dull black of Zorro’s glove.

Alejandro bit back his surprise. Now that he understood why his son had delayed marriage so long, he shouldn’t be surprised at what Felipe was suggesting. They deserved to be together. If Victoria knew her masked bandit’s identity, her masked bandit should be ready to propose marriage. When Alejandro thought of how his time with his wife had been cut so short…

Alejandro stepped up next to his son and placed his own wedding ring next to his wife’s. Diego stared for a moment then looked up at his father in shock. Life wasn’t as rigid in California as it was in Madrid, but Alejandro still took his responsibilities as a civic leader and an example to the community seriously. He usually expected the same of his son. Alejandro shrugged and Diego closed his fist over the two rings. Maybe it wasn’t eloping if your father gave you permission.

“Thank you. Don’t wait up.” Zorro mounted Toronado again, and this time there was no hesitation as he raced off to claim is love.
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Conquering Fear