Who'd Have Thought…?

By Loco the Exclaimer

X.x.X.x.X

I never thought I'd love him.

This was all I could think as he and I sat side by side, and for once I wasn't trying to kill him, just watching the city go by. The sun was setting, a light chill settling in, and darkness was beginning to overtake the city below.

We were up on the roof of my hotel, and I really couldn't understand how I'd ended up here. Certainly, I knew what had happened, I just didn't know why.

"What's on your mind?" He asked, his voice quiet to the background of the city.

Rino. He was always my worst enemy, but now… now I wasn't so sure. "It's nothing."

Rino frowned, looking concerned, but to my relief he said nothing. It was several minutes before he spoke again.

"…Zade?"

I glanced over at him, waiting for him to speak.

"Why did you help me?"

It isn't easy to answer a question when you yourself don't know the answer. If I'd let him die, I could have had everything I'd ever wanted… But I didn't.

I didn't answer, but instead looked out at the sun. It had been a long time since I'd been at peace like this; both of us sitting on the edge of the roof, our legs dangling over the side.

"Zade?"

I shook my head. "I didn't want your death on my conscience."

"I… see."

We kept sitting there, unspoken questions tainting the air between us. I knew what he was thinking – that I was trying to trick him, or that I was hiding something, or I'd find a way to use him. In a way, I wanted to believe this myself, but I knew the truth. But… he'd never see me that way. He must still hate me. After all, I wouldn't have needed to save him if I hadn't shot him to begin with.

I shifted, careful not to accidentally slide off the roof, settling into a more comfortable position. Glancing at Rino, I was surprised to find he seemed completely at ease. I raised an eyebrow. Surely he didn't trust me enough?

Noticing my look, almost as if reading my mind, he turned to me and spoke.

"If you were going to kill me, wouldn't you have already done it?" He asked.

I jumped. For a moment his blue eyes held me captive; I couldn't move, think, breathe. Then I finally spoke, and I couldn't believe what I said.

"…I couldn't kill you anyway."

He blinked, releasing me from his hold. "Why? You've threatened to kill me before."

"I guess threatening to kill someone and actually taking life are two very different things." I said quietly, making the mistake of looking back into his eyes.

"Is that why you helped me?" He had a hand on my shoulder now, curiosity in the eyes that held me.

I didn't have much of an answer, but I gave it to him anyway. "…Watching someone die… it just doesn't feel right."

He nodded, seeming not quite satisfied, and not releasing my shoulder. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, I shifted, not knowing whether to push him away or pull him closer. A few moments passed this way, as I tried to figure out what he was thinking, or at least sort out the feelings in my own heart.

"You did the right thing."

I blinked, staring, the sound so quiet I wasn't really sure that I hadn't imagined it. But a soft smile had formed on his face, the gesture reflected in his eyes. Tentatively, I returned it. He turned back to the sun, setting his hand back down between us. My shoulder still felt warm where he'd touched it.

To my surprise and his, I took his hand.

"Thank you."