A/N: I don't really like doing the review replies here, preferring to do them one on one via pms, but dang y'all seem to love the idea that the story's done now that he knows xD trust me, there's still a bit more to go. Maybe a chapter or two, i'm not sure. But it's not over yet. Anyway, thanks for your reviews! You guys are awesome! And thank you for sticking with me over my multiple breaks. You guys are some of the most patient people i s2g.
Many much love~
~shine
Disclaimer: I don't own Elsword. You would be able to tell if I did. Trust me. And you seriously don't want that.
~ When Old Wounds Heal ~
In the span of a few minutes, Elsword watched Aisha's face change from one of shock, to anger, and finally to one of sadness. He'd known already that his words would have little effect now, but if there was one thing he had learned about her, better late than never was something she couldn't stay mad at. Even serious things, like confessions. He remembered once he'd been a week late getting her a gift for her birthday and endured the heated glares long enough to get her better armor, a thick tome for learning how to read runes, and a hug and kiss on her forehead. Back then, she'd practically melted in his arms.
That, however, would not happen now.
And for good reason, he supposed. Two years later, after he'd all but abandoned her to suffer through people's hatred and distrust, he finally admitted to her how he had always felt about her, a confession she never had to make because he'd always known. He could tell in everything she had done for him. The times when she shouted at him for being so reckless, for jumping in the way of an attack meant for her, the times when she would cry and scream at him, hitting him painfully with her staff over the head and cling to him as if he'd suddenly dissolve into sand. He'd always known, yet there was always that seed of doubt within her that grew without his knowledge. The times when he should have been with her, he was with someone else. The times when she truly needed him, he spent hours away from camp doing she-never-knew what. He'd been her lifeline, while she never knew just what she was to him.
"You can't honestly think that would make a difference now. Do you honestly think I would just throw myself in your arms just because you finally told me that you loved me?" She asked. Elsword frowned and looked away, unable to utter a word. Her bitter words stung, and the hurt she tried to conceal only made it that much harder for him to face her. "Two years ago, you had more than enough time to say those words, and I assure you I would have forgiven you. I wouldn't have cared that you left me to hang, condemned me to their hate with no way to defend myself. Because all that would have mattered then was that there was one person who loved me. One person who could accept my choice, made in desperation. But that person, the one I trusted most...lost his chance."
"I know that."
"Do you?" She asked, her voice rising as the tears she'd told herself she'd never shed finally fell down her cheeks. Her voice quivered with suppressed emotion as she slowly advanced upon the boy. Elsword waited for the inevitable pain that would come. But as she stopped right in front of him and turned his face back to hers, all he could see was the pain on her face. The years of hurting she'd been through that even he couldn't mend. It was as if her heart were speaking through her eyes, and the tears represented his failure to truly fix the broken girl. "Do you really know how it feels to have someone so close for so long, to invest everything you are to them, and then have them pull away so fast that all you can do is crumble? You can't even catch yourself because the support you'd had for so long, that you trusted with every bit of strength you had, fell away so quickly that you fall, and you're too weak to pick yourself back up."
Elsword had no words for her then, and she knew it. The guilt he must be feeling, the painful truths that were finally said and brought to light, that was good enough for her. She didn't come back to destroy the boy she still loved. She'd come back to see that he was happy, that her friends were happier without her. She'd never in her life thought that she would have affected him so deeply. That he would blame himself for her leaving.
You may be wondering how she knew this even though she hadn't asked him, but it was evident in his body language. The slumped shoulders, gritted teeth, even the tears in his eyes he tried valiantly to hold back. The restrained sobs bubbling up in his chest as her words, and how he shook violently in her hands. That was more than enough for her to know. And she immediately felt sorry for saying all that she did. She had no right to accuse him of abandoning her, when she hadn't expected him to stay in the first place. She'd expected him to continue being the brat she had grown used to, expected him to treat her as if she were inferior because she wasn't as physically strong as he was. He'd made many sacrifices as well as her.
"But you know..." Aisha began, resting her forehead on his, feeling him stiffen at the contact. She smiled sadly, looking him in the eye. "Out of the many things I've waited too long to do, things I wanted to say...I never would've ever imagined I'd ever get to say the words "I love you too" or do this..."
Elsword's eyes widened a fraction, before he finally relaxed, easing himself into her embrace.
The following week was certainly full of surprises. Elsword promised Aisha that he wouldn't reveal her identity just yet, but they spent even more time together now that what had taken too long to say had finally (mostly) been resolved. Melna suspected the two of some sort of secret relationship, but said nothing. Elsword also spent a lot of time with Elesis, which both surprised and excited the elder Sieghart. Aisha also made an effort to communicate with the others, though she was much more careful with her disguise now more than ever.
Every night at Dinner, Melna was showered with lots of love from everyone. Be it in the form of playful teasing from Elsword and Elesis, to hugs and motherly kisses from Aisha and Rena, to simple compliments from Chung and Eve. Raven, ever quiet, spoiled the girl more than anyone else, though he would never admit to it. Of course, giving her an extra scoop of ice cream or taking the strawberry from Oberon's cake and adding it to hers were more than enough hints.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Raven would reply coolly, returning to his seat and winking across the table at the girl. She'd taken to calling all of them Aunt or Uncle as well, except Chung. Whether or not he noticed this was up for debate, and he didn't dare push the issue either. Though he did wonder why she called Elsword uncle.
"Iunno." She answered, shrugging. Chung merely chuckled softly and dropped the subject.
Aisha didn't mind that she was so close to the others, honestly, since she got to spend much more time with Elsword when Melna was away. She made sure the girl carried her medicine with her to help ease her coughing fits. When she was alone with Elsword, she was much happier than she had ever been. Perhaps it was because she finally knew how he felt about her, or that things had worked out differently than she had expected. Whatever the case, she spent much more time by his side now, rather than keeping her distance.
She also started noticing odd new habits of his. Or at least, they were new to her. When she would scoot closer to try and help him learn about a rune he couldn't quite grasp the meaning of, half the time he'd just smile and stare at her. This usually caused the girl to blush and try to ignore it, but if it got too much and she'd look back at him, he'd have a goofy look on his face. He'd also compliment her a lot, throw Melna in her arms randomly and hug them both, or place food in front of her if she hadn't eaten in a while.
But the one thing she liked that he did, was he'd sometimes wrap his arms around her shoulders and bury his face in her neck. He'd started doing it ever since that day when he found out who she really was. The day when they'd finally said all that needed to. Much of it was spoken through body language (because the writer is a lazy shit ahaha), but what words that needed to be said, what actions that took so long to be performed...that was all that mattered. And the fact that he would do such a thing could only mean one thing to her. He didn't want her to leave again.
Truthfully, Aisha had thought about that. Should she stay? But if she did, would she have the strength to hide underneath a facade for the rest of her life? Or would she rather just go like she intended? Sure she'd be leaving behind the happiness she'd gained in such a short amount of time, but he always had the choice of coming with her as well. But she'd never ask him to do that. Not after he'd finally met his sister again after such a long time.
In the end, she resolved to put her thoughts aside for a while and just enjoy the moment. To just enjoy being held by him. It wasn't like he'd let her go for a while anyway. He was very stubborn when he wanted to hold her, and a lot stronger than he seemed. Not to mention he almost always had a rune painted on his palms that prevented her from teleporting out of his grasp. Those were the times when she realized he needed to hold her more than anything, and so, she let him. She simply stayed there with him and enjoyed his embrace. His warmth. His touch
The biggest surprise had to have been when Elsword kissed her. She'd always taken the initiative and placed gentle kisses on his nose, cheeks, or forehead, always assuming he didn't want her to kiss him on the lips. Especially since their first kiss, meant to be passionate, was really just a sloppy disaster. She'd been too embarrassed to try again since then, and she always assumed he was too. But when he would kiss her on the lips, bringing his arms around her waist and pulling her in tightly...she could feel everything in that moment. His strengths and weaknesses melted away, as if her presence were like a light that dispelled the darkness, and the same for him as well. She didn't have to be Aisha the Void Princess any longer, and neither did he have to be Elsword the Rune Slayer. They were just Elsword and Aisha, two broken people who melded together like two halves of a coin split neatly down the middle.
She liked his kisses, and she loved being close to him. She liked holding his hand and feeling his arms around her. She loved when he would smile at her, winking and grinning that idiotic grin of his. She loved when they would lie in bed at night and just...talk. Even with Melna sleeping between them, it was as if there were no more barriers. They were the same as they had been in their teens, but definitely a lot closer now.
"That's because there's no fear." Elsword said, as if reading the girl's mind. She blinked and stared at the boy, confused for a moment. He reached over and placed his hand on her cheek, smiling faintly as he ran his thumb gently over her cheek. "I'm assuming back then you were afraid I would accept you, right? And that you'd just be hurt in the end." Aisha nodded slowly, blushing faintly at having her most secret thoughts back then revealed. "And I was afraid you'd reject me and think I was just pulling some prank on you."
"I wouldn't have put it past you, honestly. You'd pulled some nasty pranks on me before." Aisha replied, lowering her gave to the tiny girl in front of her, clinging tightly to the red head's vest. Elsword sighed softly, but he couldn't say he disagreed. If he'd been the same jerk to her he was before he decided to forge his own path...then he never would've seen just how much she needed someone. "Like gluing the pages of my tome together, throwing all of my clothes in the stream, putting dead animals in my sleeping bag. Oh, and that one time in Elder when you flipped my skirt up and knocked me on top of some random stranger. And that one time-"
"Okay, I get it, I was a little shit. I'm sorry." Elsword cut her off, pinching her lips together and sealing them shut with a rune. "Let's not remind me of how much of a jerk I was to you, hm? Besides, you were no different. Maybe not as bad, but I can remember times when you'd blast me with fireballs because you "forgot" I was there, and other times when you'd hit me with your lightning bolt for no reason at all. Oh, and did I mention I still have that scar from when you slammed your hell stone into me just when Chung fired his Steel Edge? My entire lower back still hurts like hell, you know."
"Just shut up and kiss already. I'm trying to sleep..." Melna mumbled , pulling tighter to the Rune Slayer and sighing heavily. Within moments, she was sleep again and both adults chuckled softly.
"Well, you heard her." Elsword replied, dispelling the rune and drawing Aisha closer. He wrapped his arm around her just as their lips touched, and she did the same.
For a while, things were pretty normal for everyone. Elsword spent a majority of his time with Aisha, though every so often Elesis would steal him away for a day or two for training or just to hang out. Eve managed to finish building an extra playmate for Melna. Or rather, playmates. "I had extra parts, so I thought I should make another." Eve explained to Melna as the girl looked happily amongst her two new playmates. "They are named Asclepius," Eve said, pointing to the male Nasod. He bowed deeply to Melna and introduced himself, his voice quiet. "And this is Athena." The girl bowed as well, grinning widely at Melna, who smiled back. "They are also equipped with knowledge of your condition, and will do everything they can to aid you should you have another attack."
"Thanks, Eve!" Melna said, hugging the surprised Empress. Eve soon returned the hug, a faint blush on her cheeks as well. When Melna returned to her new friends, she pulled them both away by the hand, leaving the empress to watch as the girl turned a corner and charged to some unknown location. Eve smiled faintly, turning back the way she came.
X X X
Elsword on the other hand, had grown more and more fond of Aisha as days passed. He'd always known she was a genius, but when she found an ancient rune spell and started helping him learn it, his admiration for the girl soared. Especially with him being the one more experienced with runes, she was better at deciphering old text, and even better, she could oftentimes speak the languages! She began teaching him her methods of doing this as well.
One day, during training, Elsword sighed, flopping down next to the girl, tossing the training blade away in frustration. "I don't get it." He groaned, rolling over onto his stomach and placing his head on Aisha's knee. She gently brushed some hair from his face and stroked his cheek absently, the tome in her other hand open to the page she'd been studying for a while. "All the other spells and stuff we learned, and this is the only one that doesn't seem to click. What am I doing wrong?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out, hun." Aisha said, flicking the boy's nose in response. Elsword responded by biting her knee, making the girl wince and jump. She glared at the boy, who gave her his best puppy dog face. Aisha sighed and flicked his nose again, rolling her eyes. She never could resist that look. Sighing heavily, she snapped the book closed and patted his cheek. "Let's call it quits for now. You probably need all the rest you can get right now."
"Sounds like a plan." Elsword said gratefully.
"Actually, the real plan was to take you on a relaxing date to help clear your mind." Aisha replied, winking down at the red head, who blushed and sat upright quickly. Aisha laughed. He always was eager when it came to things like that. Even moreso now that they were actually a couple. She blushed heavily at that thought. She never thought she'd ever actually get to say that. That they were a couple. All the nights she spent wishing he were hers, wanting to be held by him and feel his lips on hers, she now had what she 'd always wanted. "Sometimes, it feels like I'm living in a dream," She said aloud, unaware that she'd done so.
"Then it must be a really good one." Elsword responded, closing the distance between them and placing a soft kiss on her lips. If it were possible to, Aisha would've blushed even more, but instead, she eased herself into the kiss, enjoying the moment.
It's always like this, Aisha thought, wrapping her arms around the boy's shoulders. I don't care what fates I'll have to suffer for wishing this, but please...don't let this just be a dream...
