Final Fantasy VI and its characters are © Square-Enix. I'm just borrowing them for our enjoyment.
Random FFVI shorts based on a list of prompts that I began some time ago when I was trying to get back into practice writing, should mainly be Locke and Celes related across the board, but I make no promises. If a prompt ends up inspiring me for a different character of set of characters, I'll probably just roll with it.
- Locke and Celes
- Mid-game, either shortly before the Floating Continent or after Locke has been found in the WoR.
Prompt: Air
Locke really didn't like being in the air. It was better than being on a boat in the water, to be sure, but not by much.
Setzer's assurances didn't help matters, for the gambler had a knack for making them sound so condescending... so reproving. As if it were somehow Locke's own fault that he became motion sick.
As if anyone would willingly chose to be so incapacitated.
The fact that he knew of none others among his compatriots who had an issue rankled slightly, but his most pressing concern was to avoid Celes in his piteous state rather than focus on the unfairness of his singular suffering. His pride would never survive the blow if she found out.
Such an attempt at solitude was well underway, his hiding spot meticulously chosen for how difficult it was to locate, when she found him, green to the gills and an expression of horror marring his features when she came into view. He groaned in nausea and shame before pounding his head against the wooden window frame he was clutching like a lifeline.
Clucking her tongue at him as she stepped closer, she grabbed the tails of his bandanna to hold his head still while she ran deft fingers over his brow, the cool tingle of magic removing his hard earned bruise in moments. "Really, Locke," she chided, releasing her hold once he slowly and gently replaced his head against the wooden frame, "hiding? I took you to be more mature than that." She leaned over his shoulder to look at him, amusement tingeing her wry expression.
He tried to glare at her sideways, but his arm blocked most of the venom in his face. "I am not hiding," he argued, emphasizing the last word with derision.
"Oh? It certainly looks that way to me. I think this is pretty much the most out of the way corner in the most unused room on the entire ship." Her smirk became more apparent as she rested a hand on his back, stroking soothingly.
He chose not to focus on whether she was intending to be a balm to his insides or his bruised ego.
"I'm just trying to be ill in peace, thank you very much," he shot back, his tone much aggrieved. There really was nothing left in him to lose, but he certainly felt that his body would try once more at a moment's notice. "I don't do well when I'm not on land," he admitted resentfully.
"Clearly." She hid a chuckle none too adroitly behind her other hand.
Dropping both arms to his sides in defeat, he rolled his head along the windowsill until he faced her fully, letting a hard look settle on his features. "If you're quite done mocking me, I'd love to be able to suffer in private. At least when I'm alone I'm the only person insulting me."
This time she made no efforts to hide her mirth, laughing outright at him. "You are so dramatic. Will you please stop acting like a child?" She rolled her eyes at his set expression. "Setzer finally deigned to tell me that you were getting sick, so I've come to save you from yourself," she admitted. "I should have known that you'd be pouting all alone instead of asking anyone for help."
The final word registered and his eyes lit up in sync with his eyebrows rising. "...what kind of help?"
Settling herself more comfortably on the floor, she gestured for him to relinquish his rigid headrest and face her. With trepidation slowing his movements, he complied. Taking his hands in hers, she gently massaged her thumbs into the pads of his palms in an effort to relax him before leaning in closer.
"Close your eyes, and try to clear your mind," she commanded, her tone businesslike and reminiscent of their first few days together, which seemed like a lifetime ago.
He succeeded in the former, but failed spectacularly at her second order. He was hypersensitive to her movements, and tried not to flinch when her hands left his and settled on his stomach and forehead. He braced himself for the chill of her magic that he guessed would soon be assaulting his senses, but was unprepared for the sense of... wellness. The pain and nausea were flowing out of him like sands from an hourglass. It was nearly unbelievable. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and he stared at her, she still bore a look of concentration and focus, her eyes nearly fully lidded and her face lit by the slightly green cast of her curative powers emanating from her hands.
"You are an amazing woman, Celes Chere," Locke whispered with relief, taking in a deep breath and letting it out as slowly as he could. It almost felt too good for words after being plagued for so long by nausea and shame.
She made that disapproving clucking noise at him again with her tongue, one he secretly suspected she had used on her soldiers, and rolled her eyes. "Terra can do that just as well as I can, and the rest of you could too, if you'd ever studied seriously with the magicite from the espers that we have... met along our travels." She stood, brushing her legs off as she did so, then reached down a hand to help him up. "Now, can we rejoin the others, or do I have to tell you that we had to similarly assist both Cyan and surprisingly, Sabin, before your pride is assuaged enough to be seen?"
He gaped at her like a fish as she hoisted him to his feet. "Really? Sabin? I swore he didn't get seasick."
She hummed in agreement. "He doesn't. I've sailed with him before. More the curious that he gets airsick. You'd know all this if you didn't vanish every time we lifted off the ground all this time."
Feeling himself to be in much better spirits than he ever would have expected, so far from sweet, solid land, Locke acknowledged her ribbing with a gracious smile and motioned for her to lead the way back to their companions. Falling into step behind her, he cast one last look out the window, 'his' window, and bade it farewell as he took in the absolutely stunning view as the ship cut through the air with ease.