Tears of a Shade
Finished on 12/8/2001, Revised on 4/29/2003
Author's Notes: Well, this is a sad fic that, while I know I wrote it, don't remember how long it took me to write. I'm guessing I spent maybe a half hour on it, tops. The revision didn't take much longer, but I did manage to remove a lot of the grammatical errors. This fic was first posted in 2001 under a different pen name. Nuff said.
The figure hung back, not wanting to be seen.
Not wanting people to see him.
Not wanting to see him cry.
His eyes were closed as usual but the ever present smile graced his features no longer, replaced instead by a sad, hallow smirk, made salty by the tears he silently wept.
He could hear it from up ahead. The vows being exchanged, the clapping of the guests. It was funny, he thought. At such a time everyone was happy. Except the one person that was always smiling, always cheerful. Hilarious, really. Except he couldn't find it within his power to laugh at the situation.
He knew he had been asking for trouble but thought that such was worth it. Zellas-sama had disproved of his actions since the beginning and warned him against pursuing what she knew he felt. He suffered her wrath. Suffered to become human.
But still he had continued. The half truths, stolen kisses, the odd gift (certainly, the demons blood talisman counted as such, for relics of their class were beyond mere price), always appearing at the time she needed him most.
He had rejected his heritage for what he felt, spurning his once master, so consumed was he by the fire sprite. Given up everything he had once held dear all so that she might accept him. Had confessed what he felt and had laid before her his soul.
She had been quiet when he had admitted his feelings. Even acted more friendly than she used to, seemed more accepting of his now continual presence in their band of adventurers. He took that as a good sign, and yet . . .
He shivered slightly, wrapping his cloak tighter round himself, listening to the exchanges ahead. He turned and trundled out into the bitter cold, wind buffeting his now mortal flesh. He didn't care, however. Nothing could compare to the ache he now felt inside.
Hours later his tears were frozen to his cheeks and his cloak soaked through by the constant falling of snow. He skin was cracked and bleeding, and his limbs were warmed only by the numbness of frostbite. He stopped, resting his aching body against a fallen tree, and buried his face in his tunic. It was only a matter of time, he knew, before the aching went away, before the cold left his body. He smiled ever so slightly. Then, maybe his heart would stop aching, and he could once again laugh.
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Well, hope you enjoyed it. C&C appreciated, as always.
Thanks,
Guardsman of Time