Chapter One: Crowe and Edge. Alone.
"You're not going to believe me, but I want to tell you this anyway. I need to tell you this, Edge."
The words buzzed around in his head along with shock. Crowe had never done anything like this to him before. It was strangely out of character for him. Edge's mouth had gone inexplicably dry, and he struggled to make sense of what was truly happening.
"If," he began, licking his lips and trying to get his mouth to be less dry, "if you wanted to talk to me, you could have just said so, Crowe. You didn't need to tie me up like this. What's the deal? Why do this?"
At that, Crowe seemed to laugh, albeit with sadness.
"Because getting you alone is almost impossible anymore," came the reply. "If Meracle isn't hanging onto you, Reimi's hovering close by, or it's both. The one time I tried, Reimi was right there, wanting to know what we were doing, where we were going, and why. I didn't know she'd become crazy jealous like that."
"I thought, as our so-called big bro, you didn't like to see us fight," Edge retorted. He tested the strength of his bonds tentatively. He also recalled the conversation in question. Crowe had approached him, asked him to speak in private, and Reimi . . . he shivered at the demanding anger and jealousy that had been in her voice. To that moment, he didn't understand why she'd been acting that way, either. She'd never acted that way around Crowe before.
"I didn't then, and I don't now," Crowe responded. "I also don't like to hear that she's been calling you stupid for the things that come naturally to you, Edge. Like caring about the safety and wellness of others."
"I have done stupid things before, though," Edge admitted. The reminders that she called him stupid for some of the decisions he made
"And she hasn't? I haven't?" Crowe shot back. "Edge, we're human. We learn by making mistakes, and if you hadn't done some of the things you have, a lot of people would be dead. That isn't stupid. That's . . . brave and compassionate, and I don't understand why she would even say such a thing to you like that. It isn't right. I want you to know that."
"I do," he said, but even to himself, he didn't sound like he believed his own words. "I do know that. I know it better than what you think I do. That still doesn't explain . . ." He raised his arms and pulled on the restraints holding him there.
"Edge, you don't believe me, and I can tell that you don't." Crowe shook his head. "You're a lousy liar. Always have been. Probably always will be."
"And how can you know that I'm lying?" he demanded defensively.
"Because the chains are still holding," came the sad reply, "despite your efforts to break free."
Edge stopped moving and stared at his friend, shocked by this revelation. "Crowe . . ."
"We're probably going to be here for a while," the other man continued. He stood up and removed the upper part of his SRF armor. "I should probably stop wearing this. It's definitely hot and extremely uncomfortable, given the situation."
"What?" Edge's eyes grew wide. He didn't understand why Crowe taking off his armor suddenly bothered and frightened him. It wasn't as if they hadn't seen each other naked before. They'd shared the same room, for a short while, when they'd underwent their SRF training.
"Don't worry. You're not in your armor, either. That was the only liberty I took while you were out." Crowe looked away as he spoke and set his chest piece to one side.
Edge's face burned probably the brightest yet darkest red possible. He didn't know since he couldn't see his face in a mirror, but the burning indicated his embarrassment. He managed to glance at the rest of his body with his limited mobility and indeed saw he didn't wear his armor. The rest of his clothing remained intact.
"Crowe," he mumbled. "Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends."
"We are friends," Crowe answered, removing the last piece of his armor. "That's why I'm doing this."
"You're not making any sense!" Edge raised his voice a little, frustration coursing through him. "I don't understand! Reimi's not said anything to me or about me that isn't true!"
"Except that isn't true, Edge," Crowe insisted. "You are a good person! You're not stupid. You're not reckless!"
"But I am! I'm . . ."
"No different than firefighters," Crowe pointed out. He sat back down. "At least, not the firefighters I've heard stories about. Edge, they ran into burning buildings to save people and animals. Do you call that stupid?"
"No . . ."
"But if you were to do it, if you were to run into a burning building to save another living thing, Reimi would call you stupid and reckless for doing so, even though she knows you're not one to let others suffer needlessly."
Edge didn't say anything back to that. He'd never thought about it like that. He just knew Reimi always said he did stupid things, even when his actions . . .
'Saved the lives of others.' He went entirely still. 'Like our crewmates after we crashed on Aeos. Our friends could have died. Many of them did. I mean, I know Reimi was concerned about me getting hurt or killed . . . but she was also concerned about our friends . . . right?'
"I think you're starting to get it, if at least a little," Crowe replied. "I had hoped you would, too. I know you're not stupid, Edge."
"I still don't understand why you're going about it this way. I know Reimi's been . . ."
"Keeping track of your every move. She's jealous, Edge. She's jealous of Myuria, of Meracle, and of Sarah. Lymle is the only one she isn't threatened by."
"Crowe," Edge exhaled. "Reimi's just concerned about me. That's all she ever has been."
"But she's prioritized you over others." It was Crowe's turn to exhale. "Believe me, I know how she is, Edge. I've known her almost as long as you have, and I wish she could see in you what everyone else around you sees: a kind, warm, and compassionate young man who always wants to do the right thing, even when it comes across as stupid to others." Crowe lowered his head. "Let me put it to you this way, Edge. Do you remember reading about firefighters when we were kids?"
"Yeah," Edge nodded. "They used to run into burning buildings to save people and animals. You just mentioned it not that long ago."
"Right. Wouldn't that be something crazy and stupid to do?"
"Yeah, but . . ."
"You'd be the one to run into a burning building to save someone," Crowe pointed out. "Multiple someones. I said it to you before. You're a firefighter in almost every way. It wouldn't matter if it endangered your life every single time. You'd still do it. Would you call them stupid for doing so?"
"No. Like I said. I always thought they were brave to do so."
"Then why are you still trying to defend Reimi here? She hasn't once put her life on the line to save someone other than you. And the one time she tried to save you, she nearly endangered the rest of your crew. Edge . . . I'm afraid she's going to be the reason why you suffer more than what you already are . . . because you're going to do whatever it takes to make her happy, even it comes at the expense of others. That, or you'll end up married and divorced from her because you can't fight who you are, who you're meant to be."
"But Crowe, Lady Eleyna . . ."
"Only saw Reimi when she'd recovered from being seriously ill. She hasn't heard Reimi talk to you the way that she has, calling you stupid for risking your life to save others. I've spoken with Bacchus, Faize, Myuria, and Arumat on numerous occasions, each one expressing concern about how you're no longer acting like yourself whenever Reimi's around and calling you stupid. I know Eleyna means well, but, in this case, she's wrong to tell you and Reimi to stick together like that."
"Bacchus, Faize, and Arumat are saying that?"
"They are," Crowe confirmed with a nod. "In fact, Bacchus was the first to approach me and ask if such a thing was normal for human courtships. I had to tell him that it wasn't."
"But I can't just abandon her, either, Crowe. I've known the two of you the longest. I . . ."
"I'm not asking you to abandon anyone, Edge. I know that's not in your nature, either. But you need to see yourself the way that others see you, not just Reimi. That's why we're here. To get you to a place where you can talk to her, freely, and stand by what you're saying."
"And then what?"
"I don't know," Crowe confessed. He leaned in closer. "Maybe we could take some time to find out."
"What?" Edge blinked and gazed at his friend.
"Who were you thinking of when you said you'd propose in a letter, Edge?"