Brighter
Author's note :Hey everyone !
So, here's a little story about two characters that I absolutely loved on this game, Hubert and Pascal ! I really enjoyed this game (I'm fond of Japanese RPG), and I really like Pascal as a character. She's so refreshing and funny ^^ And her pairing with Hubert was so cute, especially in L&L that I wanted to write a little piece about them.
To be honest, I don't know if it will be a oneshot or a longer story. Even if I continue, I don't think it will be more than a 3-chapter story.
And, please forgive me if I have forgotten any mistakes, English is not my native langage.
Disclaimer : I do not own Tales of Graces, even if I have finished it !
Time makes everything brighter - Thales
« Another one and I'll be able to close that file... »
As Hubert drew his two hundredth signature of the day, he let a sigh escaped from his mouth, scratching his nose with relief. He couldn't help it, but he sometimes regretted his journey with his adored but annoying teammates : at least, he wasn't drowning under tons of paperwork...
He closed the last file and neatly arranged everyone of them on his desk : he will make sure that they reach the president at the first hour of tomorrow morning, but for now, a long and hot shower followed by a meal was all he wanted.
Grabbing his coat, he closed his office and walked through the empty hallways.
What was the time ? He hardly think of it when he is working, but now, the vision of his watch made his mind sink into loneliness. He was once again the last to go home, and it seemed to him that he hasn't seen daylight for ages.
« Maybe I should ask for a day off... », Hubert mumbled as he reached the entrance.
But a little voice in him snapped back with the usual words : « And why would you take a day off ? You have no one to share it with you anyway... »
The young man pushed the door open, and gazed at the stars. It was time to use that strange device and stop to run from all the feelings she has awakened in him. And to make this little voice quiet.
A endless pile of books and wires... That was all that left from Pascal's room, who was clean not two days ago. Since everyone's departure, Fourier has stayed in the Amarcian Enclave and made sure that her sister bathed and keeped her room in a normal state. It has been 4 months, and the cleanliness record for now was 5 days, due to an impromptu journey of Pascal in Zahvert. As a result, and because Fourier needed some rest, she returned to Fendel's capital, admitting that looking after her sister was far more tiring than her job at the Ministry of the Equipment.
A buzzing sound echoed through the room, as an hand emerged from the chaotic mess, searching for the communication device. The hand became an arm, followed by the lean body of the young woman, covered in dust and grease, her red and white hair totally disheveled.
« Crap ! Where did I put this ? » she grumbled without taking the time to clean herself.
« I bet it's from Fourier, threatening me to scrub me like hell the next time she's around... It will only be the tenth message in 2 days after all... »
Lifting a engineering book, she found the device and took the time to wipe the dirt and remove her piercing glasses before reading the text.
She let out a small gasp, and a smile grazed her face.
« It's from Hu ! What a surprise ! »
She eagerly read it : after all, she hadn't heard from the band for a long time, and it has saddened her a little. Sure, everyone was busy with the aftermath of the battles : Richard had to atone for his actions, Asbel had a land to rule and a family to take care of, Malik has a lot to do with Fendel (and she was quite happy to help him with Fourier), and Hubert... Well, he was probably climbing the social scale in Stratha.
Anyway, she missed their time together, the thrill of the adventure, and the feeling of belonging to a great family. After all, she only had Fourier and Poisson before she met them. Now she had three big brothers (she would give Malik the father's place, but she thought he would be offended) , two sisters with Cheria and Sophie, and a little bro' with Hu...
At least, that was what she thought until he left after Little Queen's defeat. His request for another surname startled her, but she had to admit that he had grown up. Since then, she struggled to find him another role in this family, and to let out of her frustration, she had absorb herself in her research, in order to keep her mind out of this subject.
She read his message another time, still smiling. It was sooooooo him to write so formally !
« Dear Pascal,
Malik lend me this device in case of emergency : I'm sorry if I use it for such a trivial thing, but I was wondering about your well being, since you are always reckless. Take care and don't get in trouble.
Hubert Oswell. »
No word about his situation, but sarcasm and scolding : toootally Hu ! But the smile didn't leave her face, because this message screamed his care and his kindness.
« In a way, Fourier's attitude is the same... », Pascal whispered.
« So why does her message always make you angry, and Hu's one makes you all smiley and fuzzy inside ? »
She hit the reply button and censored this nagging voice in her head : it was sooooo irrelevant, he was her brother after all !
He slowly got out of his very (too?) long hot shower, grabbed a towel to knot it around his hips. It has cleared his mind after a little freeked-out time he had after sending the message : maybe it was inappropriate, or useless, or bothering, or...
His track of thoughts stopped when he entered the shower and allowed himself to think about her, and her laid-back personnality. She always made everything so simple that she probably wasn't upset by his action. If only she could be as smart and brilliant when it cames to feelings...
Hubert felt refreshed by this shower, even if the dark rings under his eyes stated his state of exhaustion. He passed his hand through his blue locks before combing them neatly, and took a look in his mirror. His overall paleness made him shiver : his skin had always had a pale complexion, but he never seemed so dull, like he was made of chalk, ready to crumble. The sparkling blue of his eyes had faded, like he was eaten by the black bags sitting under his orbs.
As he was examining his less muscular arms (in his opinion), he heard a buzz coming from above the laundry basket. Hubert extracted himself from his sad contemplation to reach the device, surprised by the quickness of her answer.
A mixed feeling bubbled in him : the joy and relief that she took the time to answer, the nervousness about the content of the message, the doubt it was her (after all, who knows how this things worked ? Malik could have played a prank on him).
He slowly opened the text and ceremonially read it.
« Hey Hu! »
He was glad she dropped the lil' bro', and smiled at the energetic introduction.
« I'm Ok, stop making your hair greying before the time's right ! Fourier has been on my back for months, it his the real threat on my life ! »
He chuckled as he let his wandered, imagining the scenes. Fourier has an iron-will to look after such a loose cannon. And so must he...
« Bah, I'll survive, and it's just her way to show her care ^^ ! »
A tender smile graced his face : at least, she seemed to see between the lines.
« Anyway, how are YOU ? And the others ? Man, I miss you all and the ol' days! »
He couldn't help but feel a bit sad about this line. He knew she care about their band, but he wished she cared a little more about him.
« And I forbid you to use this ONLY in emergency case ! It means to communicate anytime we want to ! »
His smile took a hopeful tone : she gave him permission to send her other messages.
« Well, expect regular texts from me ! Take care, lil'bro ! »
He cringed on the last part, but it didn't washed away his positive feeling : she wanted to have news from him, to stay tuned, and that was enough to brighten his evening.
Putting the device back down, he reached for his clothes, feeling a surge of energy going through him. Before heading to his kitchen with the device in his hand, he took a last look in his bathroom mirror, and smirked.
The spark of light had came back in his cerulean orbs.