ME: Blimey, it has been a while, eh? Alas, exams and stuff have kept me away from writing a lot, amongst other things.
CHIBI JENNA: Pfft, you're full of excuses, you are…
ME: Oh, shut up. (Coughs.) Anyway, despite my busyness, I have somehow managed to write this little thing. It's set during TLA when the two adept crews meet up again. Now, it's pretty short and got a lot of dialogue, but I rather likes it. It's my favourite ship too…Flameshipping! Because there's just not enough of it these days…
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN GOLDEN SUN. NOPE, NOT EVEN A TINY, LITTLE BIT OF IT…
ME: Okay, now, let's start the thing…
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"It's good to see you again."
It's been a while.
A while would be putting it mildly, she reckons. It's been over a year. It's been practically a lifetime in the months they were apart.
"I'm glad you're safe."
He is, really. He wouldn't lie to her, and she knows that. It might have been a while, but he can't have changed that much…
He's not a liar, whoever he is now.
"I'm glad you're safe too. Honestly."
That might be a lie. He can't tell with her anymore, she's found herself a mask to hide behind. A stranger's mask, hiding her eyes so he can't find her anymore.
They're a million miles apart, whilst standing right next to each other. And they're a million miles from home.
The silence is deafening.
"…I came after you. We did, I mean."
And what is there to say? He's being honest, of course. But he can't take her home now. They have places to go, people to be…
It's not like it was before, and never ever will be again.
"I'm over you."
She might be lying.
"I could never get over you. Never."
He can only tell her the truth.
"Don't start this now. I won't listen."
She wonders when she got so damn childish. And why it has to be like this. Just because she's not herself anymore, doesn't mean she can't still have him.
They were so young, back then…they're not young anymore. All grown up, in the space of a year. Time goes fast. He moves slow.
"It's about more than just us now. More than just you."
And she wonders just when he got so damn mature. And she'll ask him:
"When did you grow up?"
He smiles and replies:
"I didn't. Did you?"
And maybe now he's being childish. And maybe he's lying too, 'cos they've all grown up in the times they were apart, even if it's just a little bit. Even if it's just all false.
Because that can still be worth it, if it means you can leave the pain behind and just call it your childhood.
"Don't be stupid."
Sometimes though, old habits die hard.
"Fine."
And old wounds never really ever heal, they merely get covered up with age.
Because they wear their ages like their masks, like their protection. Keeping them safe from the dark things that want to hurt them. Because in this world everything can hurt you.
In this world, anger can last when trust can be forgotten.
In this world, everybody is old.
"Garet…I'm over you."
And that's it. That might be the end.
"Jenna…I think I'm in love with you."
But that's the final word.
I think I'm in love with you.
It's only been a while, afterall.
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ME: Ahh, Flameshipping angsty-ness. How I love it. Heh, reviews please, folks!