The Motion Of The Ocean
Written for Caesar's Palace Shipping Week
Day 5: Sailing
Pairing: Terra/Locke
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy belongs to Square Enix. I own nothing that you recognize.
Terra liked stepping onto the deck at night, watching the moonlight reflecting off the surface of the water. There was something soothing about the way its rounded edges drifted across the midnight blue currents, the sky blending with the waves to create an endless sea of stars.
She folded her arms and leaned against the railing, the gentle waves lapping against the side of the boat. All was quiet and peaceful until Locke stumbled out onto the deck, one arm wrapped around his torso as he fought against the urge to vomit.
"Terra, I'm not sure how much longer I can do this," he said, groaning and clutching the railing. "Don't you think we should have reached Thamasa by now?" His sentence ended abruptly, and he clapped a hand over his mouth.
Where Terra saw serenity and a chance to escape reality, losing herself in the waves and stars at night, Locke saw nothing but misery and sickness.
She put her arm around him, helping him over to a row of crates that had been stacked against the metal railing and held in place with heavy chains. "Come on then," she said gently. "You can sit down over here. Maybe if you take a minute to rest, you'll start feeling better."
"I doubt it." The wooden crate creaked as he sat down, his fingers finding the chains and holding on tight as the ship lurched forward. "I've always been this way, even when I was traveling with Rachel. Which is why we never strayed far from land. It wasn't until she passed away that I started braving deeper waters in search of the Phoenix Stone."
The ship swayed as a particularly strong wave lapped against the hull. It was too much for him, and he leaned sideways, his eyes closed, his head resting against her shoulder.
Terra comforted him by placing her arm around him and allowing him to lean on her. She knew the poor man was miserable, not just from sea sickness but from loneliness as well. And while she couldn't do much for his illness, she could at least keep him company so he didn't feel so alone.