Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VI.

A/N: Well, I've fallen in love with the Kefka/Terra couple! It's so wrong; I love it! And I can't figure out a long-term storyline for them, so I'll just write a bunch of drabbles. I just printed out a giant list of random words and cut them out and put them in a jar to pick from. I'll try and get these out regularly, but don't expect much :/ I live a surprisingly busy life. Anyway! Here we go! Hope you like!

P.S. This is the first time I've worked with Kefka, and the second with Terra, so pardon me if they're a bit out of character at times. Hopefully as I get more used to them, that'll get much better.

Come Home to Papa

Prompt #1

Swimming Pool

She went to the stream again that afternoon. She couldn't remember when she'd discovered it, or how long she'd been going, but any time she could slink away and soak in the sun-warmed waters, she ran as fast as she could.

They were trying to get something out of her, whether it was an emotion or a memory or something else. Slipping off her shoes to dip her toes into the water, Terra sighed, letting herself forget how they antagonized her, interrogated her, tested her until she couldn't bear it any longer.

She didn't worry about getting wet – she waded into the water fully-clothed, watching her light tights grow darker with every step, until the water reached her skirt, the fabric pooling out around her, then dipping under the surface. Her fingertips danced across the stream, rippling and dancing, then dunking under, her sleeves sticking her arms, her shirt sticking to her torso. She shivered as the water ran slowly up the length of her spine, then sighed as the warmth enveloped her like a hot spring. Her shoulders went under, and she took a deep breath before diving in, bursting up again with a breath, sweeping her wet hair off her forehead.

The precious time alone… It was more than she could ask for, when she was kept under such a strict watch since before she could remember.

Unfortunately, the solace was an illusion. Throughout her many visits, a man had followed her, if only to make sure she didn't run off, but over time his curiosity got the best of him. She was a beautiful girl – but that wasn't what made Kefka stay, tucked away behind the rocks. It was the possibility that all the pressure they were forcing on her, all the stress and fear, was inhibiting her natural powers. What could she do when she was free from all that, if only for a moment?

So he watched as she ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her eyes. Watched as she floated on her back, gently paddling with her feet. Watched as she swirled her index finger in circles on the surface of the stream, lifted it up…

And the water followed.

Her eyes went wide and she splayed her fingers – more water shot up to engulf her hand like a giant glove, sliding up her arm like vines. A scream escaped her throat and she tried to hop out of the water, stumbling. The water twirled after her as if in a chase.

Kefka couldn't stop the smile that stretched his features. Finally.

He moved to help her, but froze at her voice:

"Kefka!"

For a heartbeat, he was struck, not by the force of her voice or the terror it held, but at the fact that she had screamed his name first, before any others.

Quickly, he wiped the smile away and darted out into the open, pressing a button on his Magitek gauntlet and blowing the water away with an air spell. He gathered the frightened, babbling girl into his arms and promised it was all fine, it was all alright.

And it was. His plan could finally begin.