"Wait! No, Sheena!"
Sheena winced as she replayed Zelos' words in her mind. She tightened her grip around her legs and stared at the fire a few meters away from her, desperately trying to think of something else.
Her eyes wondered around the campsite, trying to find something to keep her interest and forget about that time she had spent with the younger Zelos. She watched Regal checking the remaining supplies, which she found it to be uninteresting. She didn't want to glance up to meat eyes with the red-haired man, sitting with his back on a tree trunk. Unfortunately, there was no Colette apologizing for everything, no Lloyd to tell her it's not her fault, no Genis to argue with the red-haired man, no Raine to discipline them with her staff and no Presea to comment the whole thing.
Instead, there was Emil, Marta and Tenebrae…
"What do you mean, you don't like it!" Marta's voice had earned the summoner attention, "I poured my heart into it! I knew it, you hate me!"
Wasn't really the distraction she was hoping for, considering Sheena found Marta and Emil pretty annoying.
"I-I never said that Marta!" Emil tried to protest but Marta's glare stopped him instantly. He decided to call for help, "Tenebrae, back me up here!" The Centurion simply laughed at the boy.
"Thank you Tenebrae!" Marta was obviously proud that he was on her side.
"Ahh! Anyone?" Emil pleaded, "Zelos! Zelos, please!"
Sheena eyes finally looked in the idiot Chosen's way, something she had been trying to avoid for a while now. Though when she saw he didn't even look in Emil's direction, keeping his cerulean eyes glued to the ground and choosing to ignore him, the memories she had built with him when she was seven flowed into her mind.
"Sheena… Let's be friends… please?"
They had grown so close back then… In her seven year-old eyes Zelos was like a prince straight out of a dream.
But that was just it, she tried to remind herself, she wasn't seven anymore… Zelos was no prince charming.
"Zelos! Help!" Emil asked again with more force.
Only now did the former Chosen glance at him, with irritation, she noted. "Geez Emil, you're pathetic, leave me alone and fight your own battles"
Hearing this, Emil's eyes turned red. Great, Sheena thought sarcastically, Ratatosk mode, yay… "What did you say, you bastard!" Ratatosk yelled back.
Clearly Zelos was in no mood for being called a bastard and all cheerfulness in him was now lost. He got up and took a few steps until he was facing the younger man. "I said, leave me alone you pathetic child!"
"Zelos" Regal warned him, "We do not know what Ratatosk is capable of"
"Like I give a shit" Zelos said before turning to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Ratatosk yelled as he got out his sword, "Come back and fight, you coward!"
The red-head halted and let out a small laugh. "Fine, but remember, you asked for it"
By this time Sheena, Regal and Marta were standing in an alert position.
"No! Emil – I mean Ratatosk! Stop it!" Marta cried as Zelos unsheathed Excalibur.
"Shut up!" Ratatosk yelled back at her and charged at the Chosen.
Seeing Tethe'alla's Chosen and friend ready his sword, Regal warned once more, "Zelos, don't!"
Swords clashed and Zelos was surprised to find out the kid was so strong. Ratatosk forced him backwards and the red-head was having difficulties pushing his sword away.
"Zelos!" it was Sheena's turn to worry for her friend. Ratatosk's blade was approaching Zelos' body slowly.
"Emil! Stop it!" Marta shouted, more determined.
Loosing no more time, Zelos released the power of his Cruxis Crystal, making it glow a light shade of blue. With the new power, he pushed the sword away with more ease.
Swords clashed again, this time with the equal amount of strength.
Out of nowhere a familiar gloved hand appeared in the middle of the two men and in less than a second to register who was interfering, cards flew in a ball.
"Pyre Seal!"
The cards exploded and threw the two men on the ground.
"Emil!" Marta ran to aid her knight of Ratatosk.
"Urh… Marta?" Emil asked. The former Vanguard was relieved to see he was back to his normal self. "Oww! What just happened?" he asked, now feeling the pain of the attack.
"It's okay, here" Marta answered and did him a First Aid.
Zelos knew fully well who had interrupted the fight and, honestly, had no wish to face her right now.
He could feel the summoner's stare on the back of his head. He gathered his courage and stood despite the pain of the explosion. Slowly he lifted his eyes to meet hers. Her chocolate eyes glared right back at him. Without a word she slapped him across the face, and he wasn't even in the mood to complain.
"Are you stupid! Going against the Summon Spirit Ratatosk… You wanna get yourself killed?" She yelled him, as if disciplining a child. Though, something in his eyes made her fear the answer, not knowing why.
He looked back at her without a single word of complaint. As she had noticed before, acting like this, something was definitely on the Chosen's mind. Something had to be up. Regal noticed this, too, and signalled Sheena with his eyes to go sort things out with the red-head somewhere else.
Sheena nodded to the Duke and returned her eyes on her red-haired friend. This time, he managed to smile at her, but she knew that the last thing he felt like doing was smile. She glanced back at the other half of the group. It seemed like Marta and Tenebrae were as occupied as ever with Emil.
Turning back to the Chosen, she saw him the way she remembered him to be when he was only ten. It stabbed her heart and tears flooded her eyes almost instantly. Desperate not to show her tears in front of the others, she grabbed Zelos' hand and ran off in the woods.
This moment was all too painful a reminder of those days where he waited for her every single day just to see her smile. Again keeping pace with her, he couldn't help being the dramatic guy he was by repeating the words he had said back then. "You don't even know where you're going"
His words made her stop instantly. Zelos nearly ran right into her.
Regaining his balance, only now did he notice that the woman he loved for 14 years now was crying. He understood then that he hadn't been the only one thinking about the precious time they had together.
"Sheena…" he hesitated. Despite the many consolations he gave to many crying girls, he truly didn't know what to do. He couldn't use any of his charming words on her like he did with many others. Sheena was different, that was one of the things he loved about her.
Sheena's whimpers were the only answer. He could tell she was fighting back the tears she cried and, unfortunately for her, she wasn't winning the fight.
Slowly, Zelos made his way around her without a sound. He didn't want to get his Violent Demonic Banshee mad or anything. Facing her, he inhaled a quick breath and, taking his chances, wrapped his arms around her trembling body.
Holding her like this, he remembered clearly the last time he had been physically this close to her. Though, he didn't remember this feeling happening before.
Noticing she hadn't shown signs of pushing him away, he rested his head on her raven black hair. With this he felt Sheena's head rest on his shoulder as she let out a shaking breath.
"Zelos?" she whispered in a tone she had never used with him before that made the Chosen's wounded heart melt.
"Y-Yeah?" he managed to answer, finding it hard to find his voice.
She hesitated in his arms and nudged closer to his neck. "Why did we turn out this way…?"
"Heh…" he tried to laugh, "… Because…" he continued, holding her tighter to find comfort for himself, "…heh… because I'm an idiot…" he placed a hand on the back of her head and pulled her closer, feeling his throat tighten with every word.
"… Zelos…" she didn't move from his strong hold, but the tears that had stopped swelled in her eyes again.
"… I'm an idiot for losing you, Sheena. Maybe I never did really have you in the first place, but you need to know that I'm sorry, more than I've ever been," he continued after taking a long breath. He pulled away from her and locked his eyes on hers, both hands on her shoulders. He took another deep breath, "… Sheena," he hesitated, a blush coloring his face, "… This… This may not mean much coming from me, but Sheena I… I."
Her tears fell as she widened her eyes, realizing what he was trying to say. Warmness filled her heart as a deep blush and a smile appeared on her face. "You love me," she stated happily.
Making note of the clear happiness she was showing to the statement she made, Zelos regained his confidence, feeling the nervousness float away. "Sheena!" he complained in a humorous tone, "You ruined everything! As your gleaming knight, I was supposed to declare my love to you and sweep you of your feet, kiss you with my passionate love, and maybe take you to an inn… where we could…" he smiled suggestively before earning himself a whack on the arm, only to make him laugh. Soon after though, Sheena was laughing along with him.
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself now" she laughed, poking his nose in the process.
"Am I really?" he asked playfully and leaned closer, closing his eyes and ready for the kiss.
Sheena's face went completely red at his actions and pushed him away. "You idiot!" she said, "We – I mean, there's no time for… Well, this! We have to find Lloyd and get this Ratatosk thing settled!" She turned away from him to walk back to camp.
Those last words stung even if he knew that finding Lloyd was one of their top priorities. He knew Sheena always had a little something for that guy ever since she brought him to Tethe'alla, but he liked to think that he was smart enough to see that she had always had a bigger something for him.
She turn around, noticing Zelos hadn't made a comment or followed her back to camp. He didn't notice her turning back, so there was no need for his mask of confidence. Therefore, she saw clearly what he was thinking and smiled. "And by the way," he heard her say and lifted his head quickly and his mask was visible again as he started walking towards camp, too, "Yes, my favourite hunny?" he asked teasingly.
She smiled at him once more, something he hadn't expected after what he just said.
"I love you too, Zelos."
As soon as those words left her mouth, she ran back to camp, not quite fast enough for Zelos to catch her reddened cheeks.
The Chosen stood there, and he stood there in the woods for a long time.
At that moment, the doors that had closed on him seemed to be blown away. She loved him… and that's all he ever wanted.
"There you are."
Zelos' eyes focused on the person approaching him, his eyes on the hilt of his sword. It was a tall well-built man with long hair. He relaxed as he recognized the man.
"Mr. President!" Zelos shouted as he jumped on the man and gave him a hug. He wasn't able to hold his joy in much longer.
"I take it you're feeling better," Regal stated, tugging away from the red-head's tight grip. "Maybe more than better…" he continued, freeing him-self and laughing a bit.
Zelos laughed and playfully punched him on the arm, "What are you talking about, I never changed!" he kept laughing.
"Yes, of course," he laughed too. He was happy to see that his friend was happy for once. It was something he had never seen before.
"Hey! Race you back to camp, old man!" Zelos said and ran off. Regal watched him go and slowly shook his head, a smile on his face. Was 36 really that old? He decided to run after him, and maybe show the 24 year-old a thing or two.
When it was time to call it a night, Zelos couldn't help but gaze at his favourite hunny from across the fire. His favourite part was that she couldn't help but gaze in his eyes too.
