Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I hope you all sleep better at night knowing that.
Feckless Neophyte
"Like this?" I questioned, my brows furrowed.
"Not quite, Ven…"
I hated this. Absolutely hated this. Terra got to call it a day, but Eraqus had requested that I master Firaga before retreating for the night. Pfft. Both Aqua and I were not going to get any sleep, that's for sure. Now, Aqua is a sweet girl, she doesn't show any anger or frustration that I can never get it right, no matter what I do. She doesn't bark at me to hurry up or tell me I'll never get it right, like I inwardly do.
"But you're almost there, just try it again."
Of course, I couldn't exactly pay much attention to the task at hand. We're talking about Aqua here. Who would – who could? Certainly not Terra, and especially not me.
"Do you want me to show you again?" she inquired without a drop of irritation in her voice. I smiled and scratched the back of my neck,
"That'd be helpful."
"Okay." She wrapped her arms around me and moved them like the ventriloquist she was. Stupid me, it was probably my fault she was pulling the strings. But honestly, I would play the part of the marionette for the rest of my life if it meant belonging to her.
She pulled closer to me and I tried to hide the sudden red rash that spread across my cheeks as she reenacted what the spell was supposed to look like in action.
"Thanks." I told her, averting my gaze to the emerald grass that was illuminated by the moon's iridescent glow. A breeze whistled through and the tiny blades danced to its tune, "Y'know, it really is pretty out here." I breathed, hoping against hope that the fire on my face had gone out. She tilted her head and giggled, covering her soft lips,
"Is that why you're so distracted?"
"What? I – I, um – you think I'm distracted?" I turned back towards her, but occupied myself by playing with the fraying end of my belt.
"Haha, just a little." Man. That laugh. It resonated in my ears for a few moments before she realized I wasn't responding and asked, "Are you sure you're okay? If something's bothering you, you could always tell me about it." She assured me by taking my hand.
"I – It's just that, I – um," I stammered, shoving my hands in my pockets and turning the other way, "I kind of…" the words had to come off my lips. Now. They had to. If there was any time to tell her, it would be now. No Terra, No Master Eraqus, no one but me and those perfect pair of ceruleans. The night was beautiful, the air was fresh, the stars were pressing, as if peeking in on us, maybe to watch our first kiss. But of course, those single pair of words that reverberated in my dreams, resounded now. 'Feckless Neophyte.' Of course it wasn't my voice, but an old man's. Maybe something of my forgotten past. But whatever it was, it still had some effect on me. "Never mind. It's not important."
Yeah, I know. Some of you are going "What? Why didn't you tell her?" (And I know some of you probably saw that coming, but still.) Well, Terra kind of uncannily likes her too. And he's planning on telling her soon, so what if she already said yes? What if Aqua says no and tells Terra? Then he'd be mad at me because he told me that he liked her first, Aqua would act awkward around me, and there goes some strong friendships, just because of my stupid feelings. Besides, if you had a choice between a strong, tall, buff, older guy or a weak, short, gaunt, younger one, which one would you choose? If you were a farmer would you choose a sturdy ox or a small sheep? A king or his servant? A shark or a dolphin? A grand oak or a sapling? A motorcycle or a tricycle? A man or a kid?
A brave chosen one or a feckless neophyte?
Exactly. So I tried my best to learn Firaga and got out of there as fast as possible.