Felix and Sheba: Familiar
Felix knows Sheba. He has been traveling with her for nearly three months now and he believes he has her figured out. She is young, yet mature. She is strong, yet fragile. She is mischievous, yet kind. She wears her heart on her sleeve and a smile on her mouth and if she is ever not doing so, then that is not the real Sheba and Felix will walk the ends of the earth to find her. He also knows that she adores him, almost worships him. He understands, even if she doesn't, that he is her brother, father, and friend all wrapped up into one and he'll be damned if he doesn't live up to her expectations. After all, he considers her just as much of a friend as Isaac or Garet and just as much a sister as Jenna. He promised to himself since the moment they started traveling together with Saturos and Menardi that he would protect her bright smile and shining personality, even if it meant his life.
One day, however, the group camps out within some woods off the beaten path, and Sheba is put on night watch. Felix wakes up in the middle of the night, for no real reason. He looks around and sees Jenna and Kraden fast asleep and Sheba sitting not too far away from him, watching the fire. He can't go to sleep, so he decides to relieve Sheba of her position. But when he tells her to get some rest, she doesn't budge.
Felix knows Sheba. He knows that she's not leaving for a reason, so he decides to wait. An owl hoots in the distance and crickets play their tunes in the trees.
"I'm scared, Felix."
The brunet says nothing and waits for her to continue. He hears her take a shaky breath before saying, "I'm really scared because this is the first time I've ever truly been outside of Lalivero and I'm so scared it hurts, Felix. I see a monster and I know I have to kill it; I know I have to if I want to survive, but all I want to do is run away and hide."
Sheba's voice cracks, but she keeps talking because she's desperate to let these feelings go. Felix decides that he doesn't like hearing her sound so melancholy. "I know I have to fight, I really do, but it's so painful being here!"
The Wind Adept begins trembling and Felix has an inkling of what will happen next, but he hopes it doesn't happen because Sheba is supposed to be bright. She's supposed to be shining. "A part me really doesn't want to go back to Lalivero because I don't want to be forced to be a 'Promised Child' again, but I miss the security, I miss the safety! I miss not worrying if I'll live the next day.
"I wish Saturos and Menardi had never taken me away."
At that last statement, Sheba bursts into tears, quietly, so as not to wake up the rest of the group. Felix had never seen Sheba cry, not once. Not when the Proxians kidnapped her, not when Menardi slapped her across the face for being disobedient, not even when she killed her first monster. She is bright and bubbly, mischievous and kind.
But here she is, tears streaming down her cheeks, looking small and sad and despondent and Felix isn't sure of what to do. So he does the one thing he can do. He gathers her into his arms and waits for the young girl to stop crying. That her smile will come back. That she won't be sad anymore.
Felix knows Sheba. He knows that her eyes are not meant for tears and her mouth not meant for sobs. So he also knows that her sadness will end and she will be back to her old self. And even though her tears are tearing him apart right now, he will wait patiently until she smiles once more.
And Felix knows Sheba. He knows he won't have to wait long.