Note:
This one is set immediately after "Sportafake". Thanks to the
ones who have reviewed, thanks also to the ones who have read and not reviewed. It is very
likely that the next drop takes a while to come. Just so you don't
think I've dropped this. As per usual, any correction or
constructive criticism is craved and appreciated, and so are reviews.
Suggested reading music: "Mermaid Song" by Sarah
Khider.
Disclaimers: See prologue.
Two: Promise
Stephanie waved goodbye to her friends while giving them a sleepy smile. The sun was already sinking on the horizon and all of Lazy Town looked golden and beautiful. She sighed in awe; although sunrises were her all time favorites, sunsets ran a close second, especially this town's sunsets. She only wished she could see the sun setting on the sea someday, she'd only seen pictures of its breathtaking beauty and she'd always wanted to see it with her own eyes.
She yawned as she walked. The whole Robbie Rotten impersonating Sportacus fiasco had left her very tired. This kind of thing seemed to just drain her energy away; it made her remember the first days she had spent there, when everything had seemed uphill. Had it not been for Sportacus, she would have eventually given up, given in and let them get their way despite everything she believed in. But with him helping her, the road had been easier. He was her friend an ally, and if she had some saying in it, it would always be like that.
As if her thoughts had summoned him, he appeared in front of her. He was waiting for her near her uncle's house. It was odd for her to see him standing still, and at first she thought something was wrong, but then she saw the smile on his lips. She smiled too and ran to him, suddenly feeling the tiredness evaporate like the garden mist when the sun began shining.
"Hi!" she greeted. "I thought you were already in your airship."
"Well, I was. But I came back."
"Is someone in danger?" She asked, concerned, and turned to look everywhere for traces of trouble.
"No, it's not that," he shook his head and smiled so he knew he meant it. "I don't feel I thank you enough today. You were really brave to speak up, and I'm very grateful you stood up for me."
"I told you, I followed my heart… and my heart just didn't want for anything unfair to happen… it didn't want for you to leave," she said, and hugged him. It never ceased to amaze her how comfortable she felt hugging him, because she wasn't too prone to touch people that weren't her family, never had been. But somehow, ever since that moment weeks ago, she felt he was just... safe.
He returned her hug and smiled, then slowly let her go.
"Well, I better go now. It's almost eight, time to go to bed."
"Oh…" Stephanie sighed, feeling kind of sad all of the sudden.
"Goodbye, Steph-" he began saying while waving goodbye and readying to perform a back flip, but she cut him off.
"Sportacus!" She called out in a rush, fighting the urge to close her eyes and clench her teeth before going on. "Could you… stay? Just a little while…"
"Is there something wrong?" Now it was his turn to be concerned, he looked at his crystal, but it remained silent. Confused, he put his hand over his eyes and searched to his right and left, hearing intently for anyone crying for help; but nothing happened.
"No… there's nothing wrong. It's just... Today I realized that I know you without knowing anything about you. And that's ok, I like trusting you this way. But, I'd really want to know more about you, just to know you better."
"Ok," he agreed and crouched in front of her, smiling like a child presented with a new game. "What do you want to know?"
"I don't know," she looked at him opening up her eyes like she used to do when something caught her off guard. She hadn't really though of anything in particular she wanted to ask him. "Anything… like… hmmm… Well, uncle Milford said you came from an island in the North Sea; that sounds really far. Do you miss your home?"
"A little," he sat down on the floor, resting his forearms on his knees, thinking. When he talked his face wore a dreamy look that she had never seen in him before; it was a mix of longing, warmth, memories, and a little fleeting bit of sadness. "I miss the sea," he finally said, his accent dyeing every word the color of his eyes. "You can't really swim too long, because she's really cold, but every time I did it I felt like she embraced me. Touching the sea, hearing the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks… I think that is what I miss more."
"I've never really seen the sea for myself, only pictures," Stephanie slowly let herself slip down to seat on the floor, facing him. "But I think it has the color of your eyes," she said before she could stop herself and her face turned really red. But Sportacus just chuckled well naturedly, shaking his head a little before looking at her in the eyes again.
"I guess the part of the ocean that's in my soul shows up a little in my eyes," he said, feeling that Stephanie's comment made perfect sense and reflecting it in his voice, thus easing any trace of embarrassment she could have felt. "I'll take you to the sea someday, Stephanie, so you can see her color, feel her deepness, hear her beauty. I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do."
"I'm sure of it too," she nodded her agreement and her eyes smiled bright.
They spent some minutes in a comfortable silence, until the day caught up with her and made her yawn. Sportacus stood up and offered his hand to help her up, realizing that night had already fell and they both felt very tired.
They made their way to the Mayor's house in silence, just enjoying the walk and the soft cool breeze that began blowing. They arrived in just a couple of minutes.
"Good night, Stephanie."
"Good night, Sportacus."
He watched her hop her way to the front door and enter the house before smiling lopsided and make his way to his airship.
// -- //
"Stephanie! You're alive!" exclaimed the Mayor, relief plain on his face as he dropped the phone down and ran towards her.
"Milford? Is that her? Did she arrive? Milford?!" said Miss Busybody's muffled voice on the phone.
"Oh, Stephanie! I was so worried!"
"I'm so sorry Uncle Milford, I didn't realize it was so late," said Stephanie regretfully. "I'm very sorry I worried you, It won't happen again."
"Oh my! Did anything happen to you? Did you have an accident? Got injured? Were bitten by evil gerbils?" He asked all worked up while checking up she was whole and alright. She giggled.
"No, Uncle Milford. I'm really alright. I was just outside, chatting with Sportacus."
"Sportacus?" Mayor Meanswell's face was an ode to confusion. "Wasn't he in his airship?"
"Well, he was. Then he came back," said Stephanie matter-of-factly and yawned again. "I'm going to bed now, uncle. Good night," she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried to her bedroom, leaving him still shocked, not moving and barely blinking.
"Sportacus, uh?" Said the Mayor to himself. A sneaky feeling tried to make its way to the back of his mind for a second, but was then chased away by the piercing voice coming from the phone.
"MILFORD?! ARE YOU THERE?!"
"Oh! I'm coming miss Busybody!"
// -- //
Up in her bedroom, Stephanie laid on her bed, sleeping soundly and dreaming of the sunset on a faraway sea.
// -- //
Final notes:
Pink Angel Baby: Nopes, I'm not going to analyze every one of them… just the ones I need to get my point across :wink:
Anita: Yup, I noticed that, and screamed so loud my sis though I was crazy… well, maybe I am.
