Chapter Seven: He Was There

He never could find a proper name for it, whatever this state of mind is. He thought it was his Wastelander, seeing how it always pop up when he was in danger, that part of his mind that pulled the trigger or wielded the knife.

He thought it was just a more mature state, as it appears when he thinks about serious things, like when he was constructing the Twilight, what guns to use or what kind of engine he should use.

He also thought that it was that part that wasn't him. He becomes someone else. It was the part of him that knew the right time to fire his weapon, the right wrench to use, the part that examines details; it was the more adult, more serious Thade.

It was the warrior, the man, the Wastelander.

In short, it was the part of him that he got, from his father.

It was this same state of mind that got him thrown out into this desert, it was the same that helped him survive this long, it was the same that made him shave.

It was the part that was now making him watch what was before him, looking through the crack of the washroom door, and to the person on the other side.

Thade wrenched his gaze from the door, mentally (and physically) slapping himself.

What was he doing? Why would he even thing of such things? Seem is the leader of the Golden Order! High priestess of the monk temple!

"A woman." An irritating voice in the back of his mind said. "Put aside her rank and all the religious mumbo-jumbo; Seem is still a woman."

Thade closed his ears, not wanting to listen to the voice. But it rang loud and clear in his mind.

"Look for yourself, and you shall see. Who would know? You are alone."

Thade's mental battle was drawing to a close, as he slowly turned to the door, looking through the crack.

"I'm going to Hell for this." Was his last thought, peering though the crack.

The first thing that came to his sight was the tiled floor of the washroom. Following the lines of the tile upward, his eyes soon fell on alabaster skin.

Closing his eyes, and once more tried to pull away from the door (and failing), he returned his gaze.

Underneath all those heavy robes, kept well hidden from the world, lied a treasure that could make any man long for.

Long, chestnut hair, tied in a topknot, draped down over pale, slender shoulders. Narrow waist, curving down to well rounded hips. Long, elegant fingers caress, lithe, taut arms. Her skin damp from water, gleaming in the candlelight, creating a radiant white aura.

Seem was gone. What was standing in the shallow pool before Thade was an otherworldly being, a valiant goddess of beauty.

But Thade knew better then to think that this was an ordinary woman. No. The few scars on her back and the apparent muscles in her arms and shapely legs were evidence enough.

This was a Spargan woman. A goddess of beauty, yes, but also a goddess of the cruel desert.

Thade was looking at Seem from behind, getting a view of her back and everything lower. When she turned to get something on the edge of the pool, Thade quickly backed away from the door to avoid being seen, a great lump in his throat.

The muscle definition on Seem's firm stomach reminded Thade that this was a Wastelander woman. Most likely just as strong as he was, perhaps even stronger.

The Precursors only know of what kind of fury and wrath this goddess would unleash, once she discovers this lowly whelp gazing upon her forbidden beauty.

With that thought, Thade once more tried to pry himself away from the door. He succeeded this time, slumping onto the floor, resting his head against the wall next to the door.

Seem was still young, as Thade saw.

"This is wrong, so wrong." He mentally told himself. He tried to think of something else, to rid him of the images of Seem's hidden features, but it was failing.

Her slim body, her taut muscles and other unique traits of her flesh, burned into his brain.

"Nothing is wrong with this."

"But… My promise." Thade thought. "I promised Damas-"

"You promised to watch over Seem, to take care of her. What better way to keep an eye on her, then to be with her?"

"I can't do that to her! Blasphemy!" Thade shouted mentally.

"Oh cut the crap! You were never the religious type anyway! Besides, where are the other monks? Who did she trust to have her first beer with? Who did she trust to climb into a car with? Who did she trust to protect her from the dangers of the desert?

"Face it, Thade Rainer. This girl went against her own teaching more then once in two days. Where is the mob you fear? Nowhere! Ask yourself this question; why? Why did she remove her armor, the same armor she wore for ages? Why did she remove her hood, the same hood that the other monks wore? Why did she remove her ceremonial and customary face paint?

"I answer this question, with another; who is going to stop her? No one! Don't you see? There is no one left! She is the last of the Golden Order! She fled this temple to Spargus, because she was left alone. Who did she run into?"

Thade was left speechless, listening to the voice. As much as he hated the voice, it was right. So crudely and brutally right.

"When she was about to fall into a great pit of despair and loneliness, you where there to pick her up. Precursors only know what she might have done. But you were there. You are only elf, nothing evil. But you know what? So is Seem. She lived her life in the desert, with the monks and their teachings. You were there to help her into the world she left."

Thade sat silently, letting all this sink in. It was all true, every word of it. He stood finally, glancing one last time through the crack of the door. His eyes did not fall upon Seem's alabaster flesh, but rather on her face.

Ruby eyes gleamed in the candlelight, her brow furrowed in deep thought. The lewd images of flesh had disappeared in Thade's mind, replaced with the images of Seem's smiling face, the sounds of her laughter, those red eyes shinning brilliantly.

Thade's heart was pumping hard, as he absorbed the innocent face of Seem, committing it to memory.

The childish part of his mind, the Thade that everyone knew and loved, had temporarily disappeared. The Wastelander, the Man, was now standing there, the irritating voice, his conscious, speaking loud and clear inside.

"Go now, leave her to her cleaning."

Thade, unconsciously nodded to the voice, turned, and walked down the hall.

Water washed over her flesh, soothing soar muscles. She reveled in the cool feeling, relaxing. It felt good to be in the water, washing away all the sand and pain.

But, her mind kept wondering to the strange Wastelander named Thade.

His smile, his laugh, his hazel eyes. But then, there was that one moment, when she saw all of him.

No, it wasn't his nudity, it was, scars.

No, not scars, but a scar.

One, long, nasty one, going across his chest. How did he get such a horrible looking cut? Was it from a Metal Head? A vehicle accident? How long has it been there? What was he doing to get such mark?

His life must have been very hard. Father killed by the KB in Haven, thrown out into the desert at a young age, and his mother dying from an illness.

She wonder how his childhood was like, growing up with an ill mother and a farther that was never there.

She only wished she knew her parents. It would be interesting, if her grandfather never took her away, and Thade was never thrown out into the desert.

Would they, really, have met one day on the streets? Or, would they just pass each other, not even looking at the other?

Would Seem and Thade really have met and become friends?

Seem smiled slightly at the thought. It probably would have happened, one day or another. But, it was destiny for them to be out in the desert.

It was Thade's destiny to have tried to help him mom and get thrown out here as punishment, as it was Seem's mother's destiny to ask her grandfather to take her away.

Either way, hypothetically, they surly would have met, whether it was on the streets of Haven, or late one night in the desert.

Seem reached for a small trinket laying on top her pile of clothing. It was a small pendent, the last gift from her grandfather.

It was a bronze coin, etched on it was various images of people and Precursor writing on it.

She held the coin in her hand, watching it gleam slightly in the candlelight. And then, a thought stricken her.

If it was destiny for them to be out here in the Wasteland, was it destiny that they met? Was she supposed to fall, and he was there to catch her? If the scenario of them not out here was possible, would it still be destiny for them to meet?

Like, she trips on the street, and he was there to help her up?

Maybe, just maybe, this was all supposed to happen. Her meeting Thade, her staying with him, and the events that led them to the Temple.

She then realized it; she had brought Thade to the very place she wanted to avoid, the very place that she grew up in, and the place that made her feel so alone.

It was destiny! This was supposed to happen! She was supposed to bring the person that made her feel safe to the place that made her feel lonely!

But, why?

Was the temple tied to their destiny?

She sighed, sinking down into the water. If it was destiny, then what was going to happened now?

She was thinking so much, that she just now realized that she has been in the pool for quite some time.

"Best not keep Thade waiting." She thought, climbing out of the tub.

She then realized that she didn't have extra clothes to change into, so she just put on her loose shirt and the pair of britches she wore under her robes. She didn't put on her boots, so she just walked into the hall, leaving the rest of her clothes behind. She'll get around to them.

Something didn't feel right, when she walked into the hall. It was quiet, but it was a disturbing silence. She walked down the hall, her hair dripping and her bare feet padding silently.

When she came to her room, she found Thade kneeling at the end of her bed, examining her armor. He held the breastplate close to him, his fingers dragging over the gritty metal.

"I would like to apologize." She said silently. Thought she said it silently, Thade did jump by her voice, turning his head to see who it was.

Unlike last time, his face wasn't in a stern glare. Instead, his eyes were wide in surprise.

"Apologize? For what?" Thade asked.

Seem chuckled a little. "Sorry I saw you in the nude."

Thade blushed a bright red, turning back to the armor in his hands. "Very direct of you."

"I couldn't think of another way to approach it without sounding like a fool. So I'll just go out and say it." Said Seem, walking towards her armoire.

Thade looked over, and saw where she was heading. "I will leave the room for you."

She didn't know why she said it, but she looked over her shoulder to Thade, and said, very clearly, "It's ok, just don't turn around."

What? Why did she say that?

Thade blushed more, turning his head back to the armor, and shifted himself till his back was towards her.

Seem blushed herself, thinking of a reason to why she had said that. But it has already been said, and so, she opened her armoire and picked out a simple shirt and a pair of loose pants.

She looked over her shoulder to Thade, to see that he was still focused on the armor. Reluctantly, she began to undress herself, replace her old clothing with the new. She peered over her shoulder periodically, seeing Thade never moved an inch.

When she was done, she turned back to Thade. "I'm finished."

Thade slowly turned around, seeing Seem fully dressed in new clothing. His face was still a little red, but not so much.

"It's getting late. We should turn in for the night." Thade said, placing the armor back and stood up. "I can ride out tomorrow with one of the Leapers, get a tank for the Twilight."

He walked over to the door, but then stopped and looked back to Seem. "I can use one of the other monk's rooms, right?"

Surprisingly, Seem shook her head. "I… I would like…Um…"

Thade looked at Seem confused. Seem's face was flushed, her eyes looking at Thade in that longing but confused way.

Thade could see the inner conflict through those eyes; she wanted to say something, but she didn't know how he was going to react.

"Is there something you need me to do?" Thade asked. Seem flinched at his voice, but she seemed to soften a bit.

"Can you, stay with me again, tonight?"

She was expecting Thade to blush, stammer and sit on the chair that was at the other end of the room.

But, he just smiled to her, and nodded his head slowly. "If that is what you need me to do, then I will."

Relived. She felt relived when he said that, and she smiled right back at him.

She sat down on her bed and looked over to Thade, and what she saw made her heart jump. He had removed the robe she gave him along with his shirt.

She saw that scar again, but that was not she was focused on. His face was soft, but his eyes where stern. He walked to the other side of the room close to a lantern, looking over to her.

"You don't wish to be alone tonight?" He asked.

Seem blushed. His voice was deeper, but it was calm.

She nodded her head to him to answer his question. "I would like to have you here, so it won't seem so lonely in here."

Thade nodded his head. "I understand."

He turned, and blew out the lantern, covering all in darkness.

Seem lied down on her bed, and she could hear Thade walk across the room and sat down on the chair.

There was silence, save for their breathing. She lied there for a while, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, and looking over to the silhouette that was Thade.

She drifted to sleep.

She had a dream. She was sitting on the edge of the oasis, the full moon above, and a gentle breeze in the air. She turned, and saw Thade's Twilight parked not to far off, and Thade himself leaning on it.

He looked different. His hair was longer, slicked back, and he had a brown, thick goatee on his chin. He was dressed differently as well. He wore a dark leather duster, a black twisted looking shoulder plate and dark britches. In his hands was this large rifle, painted to match his Twilight.

He looked up towards her, smiling and place his rifle down. He extended a gloved hand to her, beckoning her to come closer.

Seem took a step forward, and suddenly the winds grew more powerful. Soon, it was a brutal storm brewing, obscuring her view. She could see Thade fighting to keep to his feet, but then he was gone, the flesh tearing winds carrying him and the Twilight away.

She cried out to him, but her throat burned, and no words came forth.

She sudden snapped awake, sitting up swiftly on her bed.

It was a storm; she could hear the winds blowing outside.

"Are you ok?"

Seem looked over to see Thade, still sitting in the chair, looking over to her, his eyes worried. "You where mumbling in your sleep. Sounded like a nightmare."

Seem nodded to him, shifting on her bed. "It started off nice, but then you blew away."

"I blew away?" Thade suddenly asked.

Seem then realized what she said. She looked back to Thade, and saw that he was now standing up. "Why were you dreaming about me being blown away?"

"I…I…I…" Seem started to stutter.

She didn't know what to say, what to do. But, as Thade drew closer to her, she saw the worry in his eyes, like he knew why she dreamed, but wanted her to say it anyway.

"I'm afraid that, you might leave me too." She finally said.

Thade had now sat down on the edge of the bed and looked over to Seem. "Why would I leave you? I mean, we are just now starting to know each other. It would suck to stop now."

Seem shook her head. "That's not just it."

Her voice was silent, and Thade, surprised, saw a single tear run down her cheek. She started to stutter again, trying to say what she wanted. But then she stopped, her face growing sad.

"I don't know what's going on." She said softly.

"What do you mean?" Thade asked.

Seem looked up at him, her eyes holding back tears, once more looked longing but confused.

"What is it about you that make me feel safe?" She then asked, her voice shaky.

Thade didn't know what to say, fearing that she was going to have another breakdown. Another tear fell down her cheek as she started to breathe irregularly.

"I don't know why, but I feel so, happy, when your with me. I feel safe, I feel better, and I feel happy. But, I don't know why, I just don't understand it. Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel so calm, so peaceful?"

Seem's eyes looked deeply into Thade's, and Thade nearly cried himself. She was a wreck. She was so confused, so troubled over these questions, that it was scaring her. She leaned forward and laid her head on Thade's chest, softly crying.

"I dreamed that I saw you, and you wanted me to come closer. When I did, a storm suddenly appeared and blew you away. I tried to call for you, but I couldn't. It scared me, because you where gone, and I was left alone in the storm, my throat and eyes burning."

Thade wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head. "Please, Seem. I won't leave you, I'm staying right here. Please, don't cry."

"But I don't know why." She cried out, wrapping her arms tightly around Thade.

"I know why." Thade said, and Seem looked up to him, her eyes anxious. "I know why you feel this way."

"Please, please tell me." Seem begged silently.

"But, you know the answer, because, I feel the same way." Thade told her.

Seem only grew more confused. "I don't understand."

"Just say that needs to be said. Not the words in your mind, but the words in your heart." Thade said.

Seem looked at him for a few seconds, before her face softened, lying her head back on his chest. "But, I don't know if it's true."

"Maybe, if you just say it, you will feel better." Thade said.

Seem shook her head. "I… I don't… I can't."

Thade reached up and curled a finger gently around her chin, pushing so she would look up at him. Teary ruby eyes met with worried hazel ones. He would coax it out of her, with the only way he knew how.

He leaned forward, and Seem's heart began to beat heavily.

And then, their lips met in a chaste kiss, and at that moment, everything did not matter. Time seemed to cease, sounds fade to nothing, and Seem's troubled mind calmed.

He was so warm, and so soft. She held him tightly, not letting him go.

The kiss was so simple, not too sensual or anything. But, as simple as it was, it meant so much more to Seem. It meant the truth, it was the answer she was looking for, and it was something that she had denied herself for too long.

Who knew how long the kiss lasted. But, neither of them cared, time was nothing now.

The kiss drew to a close, as Thade slowly backed away, looking into Seem's watery eyes, and another tear rolled down her cheek. But they both smiled, for they knew that she was happy now, no longer troubled, no longer confused.

Thade held her, as she softly cried, those words finally being spoken.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Precursors only know what the future holds, and what would have happened if Thade wasn't there. But he was, when no one else was. He saved her, not from falling off a rock, but slipping into depression. He made her smile, made her laugh, made her feel safe, because no one else would.

He was there.

--------------------The End--------------------