Work in Progress: Not happy with what happens that night or the next day...but posting this as I've been stuck on this re-edit forever. Sorry. Anyone who would like to help...reachout ^.^
Beside the couch, Raven placed an earthenware pitcher of water and a cup alongside a plate with a mela, a wedge of soft mild cheese, and a scone wrapped in cheesecloth. He had been taken aback by the grey eyes of the Blue haired lass he caught positioning her basket of still warm baked goods outside his mentor's door.
"...P-pardon, my la-..." He started.
"Gack!" The slip of a girl trumpeted with the force of a drill sergeant as her toppled backwards in a less than ladylike fashion, arms waving about frantically in an attempt to save the now airborne basket. Skillful hands moved in different directions stopping both.
"Gao!" The Sin on the sofa snapped, stirring slowly, the living dead groaning as the hard thumping in his skull greeted him. Swan continued to snore like a lumberyard where he lay arms and legs akimbo on the bed, a similar plate and pitcher on the bedside table waiting for him. Sitting upright too quickly the Sin's stomach would turn.
"...Ack..." Tidus fought the urge to be sick clasping his forehead that was bitter cold, he'd had quite an ample portion of the hard liquor and nothing to help ease its potency. Pouring some water from the pitcher he found waiting nearby he'd take a sip, and even that didn't go down well. Stumbling out the front door like a train wreck he'd step off the small pouch and hurl the remainder of the liquid in his stomach. Raven, turning to stand facing the Sin as he was sick, His eyebrows pinched just enough to show he empathized with the other. Once the queasy Sin finished, watered blurry eyes aside looking a damn sight better as he stretched out and noticing Raven.
"...Sorry about that." He coughed.
"Can I bring you anything?" Raven asked softly after he had padded over and crouched down nearby.
"Can I bring you anything?" The blueberry Asmodian chimed musically at the same time adding a giggle at the realization. "YOU have a guest! I'd have accommodated him IF I had been privy to it. Pay no mind, good Sir. While some say he's... He's finer than any! Aion strike me down if that's not the gospel truth!
"GAO!" Tidus hissed clutching his head again.
"That's my que! Pleasure to meet you...Any food allergies?" She asked as she all but skipped backwards down the front path, her smile electric.
"...Um..." Raven breathed bemused.
"No Allergies. NO guest!" Tidus barked.
"Right-O, Sir!...excepting for that one I don't know about." The blinding ball of sunlight chirped
"Train." Tidus whispered.
Walking to the bathroom to clean up his face and get dressed. Opting for lighter work out attire than his leather gear while Swan from within the bedroom was close to shaking pictures off the walls with his floorboard rumbling snores. The scout wincing at the sound. Once rid of the few moments prior, he walked back outside to where Raven was waiting.
"Gods, your brother might have to fix my roof if he doesn't slow down..." Tidus grumbled. "...You seem a lot better now, have you considered paying Shade a visit?"
"You should count yourself lucky that he is my only brother who has come to pay a visit. The three of them together..." He'd leave the sentence unfinished, letting the side to side shake of his head finish in place of words. Completely ignoring the question the other had asked.
The Wolf knew why the first sentence wasn't completed, but pestered on the second.
"And Shade? I'm sure she'd like to know you're about.." Walking up to the dummy stretching out his long limbs. Giving the dummy a few half hearted punches, more concerned with Raven. Raven stood, padding back to the dummies. He gave his ankles, wrists, shoulders and neck a roll before going back to 'tat-tattat-tating' the soft rhythmic beat upon a dummy.
"Why?" Raven asked dispassionately.
"Why not? You seemed to be close to her?" Turning to give his own dummy a half hearted smack more interested in the boys response at present.
"...that is why I should not..." Raven said. His voice flat. His expression blank, but the blow he struck the dummy shook it soundly.
The older male would stop looking over to the other. "Because she's Elyos? I mean.. that's as good of reason as any."
"...partly..." He replied. HIs tone level as he struck the dummy again with a bit more force than was necessary for simple training.
Undeterred by the others obvious annoyance "The other part? let me guess... her age?" Shrugging his shoulders, he nodded in thought, obviously knowing this person to some extent. "Yeah.. over one hundred years is a bit to take in."
"Her age means nothing to me." He replied without emotion and he stood still for a moment. " I may have lost everything, but I still retain enough honor not to chase after another male's wife..." He said. While his voice remained soft and level, he lashed out at the dummy visciously. Delivering a roundhouse kick to it's head as he said spoke of her husband.
"Shade isn't married. Well.. unless she didn't tell me, which I doubt. She -was- married a long time ago." There would be obvious confusion on Isen's face raising his elbow to rest against the dummy as they spoke.
Tidus' words did garner a response this time as the stunned Raven stopped his next blow halfway to it's target, his mouth open looking as if he had been stun-locked.
"She's pretty much as old as you and I combined and maybe then some. You may not care about her age, but she's, you know.. lived." Tidus said with a tilt of his head.
Raven turned to face the other. He reached out his hand to steady himself with the dummy as he staggered a step toward it, his knees going weak at the revelation."...was?..." He wheezed breathlessly, as if he had the wind knocked out of him.
"Yes, was.. Shade did a lot of work for my grandfather they'd swap information about the other side. It was a win win situation for both, saved a lot of people. But from what i recall she only joined the military after her Husband was out of the picture and her daughter was grown." He shrugged at the other. "That was before I was born... I know the daughter was human... so.." He wouldn't finish the sentence letting the bird piece it together. "I'm not saying she's a great idea for you, she's not.. she's still the enemy, but even the enemy is better than nothing in some cases."
"WAS!" Raven repeated. A silly grin on his face, his eyes shining in such a way that it would probably be obvious that he had heard little after the beginning of what Tidus had said. Raven's glossy black wings erupted from his back spontaneously in a moment of pure joy, lifting him off the ground briefly. His face was still a vision of shameless exuberance, his mouth open in a relaxed smile. His eyes narrowing by the broadness of the smile pushing up his cheeks.
"...Ah.. y-yes was..." Smirking at the others joy, blinking with a chuckle.
"Rave...please..." Swan said as he came out of the house to flop down in a chair, wincing at the light as he held the earthenware pitcher Raven had set beside the bed to his forehead, the cup in the other.
The change was dramatic. At the sound of his brother's voice, while not all emotion drained out of Raven's face, the vast majority did. His wings vanished and his head dipping slightly as he was chastised.
"Morning, sorry we didn't mean to wake you Swan." Tidus remarked lightly with a grin as he looked between the two.
"Mmmmm." Swan groaned. "Yes, morning...I must apologize for my brother. He has a tendency to get carried away at times." He slightly nauseous looking Swan blinked a few times looking at the grass a little ways away from his feet. He straightened his jerkin with a small tug and brushed the hair hair out of his eyes.
"You're doing better than I did, it was less than a few moments after waking up that I was in talking to the flowers. I had to admit though I feel better for it. Head still hurts though and I'm a bit sluggish." The Wolf said, making conversation as he noted Ravens change in attitude.
"...Talking to the...?" Swan said. His eyes widening suddenly. A hand going to cover his mouth as the metaphor dawned on him. " Oh! Please...don't bring up..." His shoulders hunching as he thought about it more.
"So Swan, tell me is there a women you like in your flock?" He snickered at the other while he kept his eyes on Raven.
"Ah yes, the lovely Eydis. Like her namesake she brings me nothing but Good Luck it would seem." He sighed, gesturing the cup in his hand toward Raven, who stood still and silent. "Couldn't ask for a better arraignment. Being betrothed to a mate that one actually turns out to enjoy is quite the boon of good fortune, if I do say so myself. " He smiled.
"Arrangement?" the sin would probe noting the gesture
"Mhm. She's a few years younger than I. Father did well to wait before entering me into any arraignment when I first came of age. I could not be more please." Swan replied before taking a gingerly sip of water from his cup.
"Why is that curiously?" tilting his head to Swan.
"Oh, just lucky I guess. No one he found suitable for me to marry at the time I guess. It happens." Swan said as if he were talking about fashion or real estate.
It suddenly became clear with Swan's tone why Raven had gone quiet.
"Oh Silver." He said quite deliberately. "Even I'd rather my bed remain cold than enter an arrangement like that."
Swan spit the water out of his mouth as Tidus spoke the nickname he had chosen to call him. Raven, tilted his head sharply to look at the snow maned Sin. A his eyes widening in a bit of a misunderstanding as Tidus called his brother 'Sliver'. Sliversong, being his alias and an entity unknown to Swan.
"Careful there Silver the spoon will come right out if you act like that..." grinning at the others reaction.
The corner of Raven's mouth twitched as Tidus elaborated and his shoulders relaxed once more."You promised!" Swan groaned s he sank his head into his free hand.
"Did I? Parts of last night are still fuzzy." He quipped, grinning away as he moved over to Swan. "But I'm sorry when you talk like that it's hard to resist, I'm overwhelmed by your privileged life."
"Yes, yes very funny. In case it is likewise -fuzzy-, I'll just let you know that I have every intention harbouring an undying hatred for you when -that one- sets about to exploiting this little slip of your tongue." Swan grumbled not looking up, but gesturing toward Raven with the cup he held.
"I have to warn you there's a long, long line for that." He remarked, looking over to Raven as he was pointed out.
"Well, with unfortunate slips like that at other's expense I should not wonder if this line was long indeed." Swan said in jest. The light intention of the rebuke clear in his voice. " I, however, am reserving the right to cut in front when the unending misery descends upon me."Raven stood, neither his face nor body language betraying what thoughts might be running through his head.
"That's alright i'll let you all fight it out amongst yourselves..." The scout would chuckle, stretching out, the throbbing in his head still there but somewhat distracted by company.
"Oh, there will be no hint nor trace that dear sweet Rave had any part to play in whatever misfortune befalls me on account of this. There never is. Yes,yes the very picture of innocence he stands before us...as ever it has been. Wolf in sheep's clothing. I've never in my life seen one who can do so much without leaving behind even the smallest speck of incriminating evidence." Swan moaned. "Evil incarnate that one. Pure evil..." While what Swan said was in jest, a few things obviously stung Raven and he crouched down to idly fiddle with a blade of grass. His head positioned in such a way so that his bangs obscured his face.
His brows knit hearing the stinging words that were not lost to Tidus, trying to deflect from them. "Brothers right?" He smirked, walking back towards the house, deciding he'd train later instead. "...I don't know about you both but I'm hungry."
"Food! excellent idea. I am indeed feeling a bit peckish." Swan agreed, rising from his seat to follow Tidus. The soft 'tat-tattat-tat' resuming outside.
Swan wandered back inside the house behind Tidus to sit heavily in a chair at the table."I wonder if I could impose on you for one more day, Aesir? The hotel is fine for me, but I should think a rented house a much better place for Rave. I'm sure there are a few here and I'll just pop on down to the real estate office later. I'll need a bit of time to staff the country home as it's shuttered this time of year." Swan sighed, as he lay his head on the table despondently.
"Yes, it's fine for you both to stay another day. In fact it's good that you do, it gives me a chance to be able to leave for a while and know someone is here with Raven, I have some work I need to do. I've put it off, I didn't want to throw off Raven's routine seeing as he'd been doing well." The snow-maned Sin remarked.
" It's settled then. While I will arrange to rent a house here and I will stay here in your home while you're gone. I had not considered the importance of a routine. It will also give me time to pick a suitable house and not just the first thing the realtor throws my way." Swan responded. "You think of everything. Though I shall be greatly in your debt after this. Anything you need you have but to ask.."
"That's very kind of you, more than anything look after your brother." Tidus commented. Walking over to the cupboards he'd pull out some food, placing fruit on the kitchen table for people to help themselves to.
"Kind." Swan chuckled softly. "I am known as anything but kind. A necessary evil in business I'm afraid. I am, however, very glad that you see me as such, for I really am much more agreeable at home and among friends. I should very much like to count you as one, Aesir." Swan admitted ruefully.
"Then let's be glad neither of us need to be doing business with each other. That would go very sourly. Friends, I don't see why not." The scout surely didn't agree with many of Swan's view points, but perhaps the popinjay could be made to see some reason.
"Indeed! Something tells me that I would find in you a most formidable adversary." Swan laughed jovially as he took a piece of fruit from among the pieces the Sin had set out on the table. "I'm glad you see the possibility of us being friends. Rave seems quite fond of you. In all honesty, he's usually exceedingly quiet and reserved around other people, even his own kin since after his ascension. It's good to see him so animated. Reminds me of when he was younger, always smiling and laughing, always so happy."
"Do you know how it is he ascended?" Working about the kitchen as he spoke, boiling water and cooking away.
"Oh, he gave us quite a fright that day, if I do say so myself. We'd oft go down to the supply depot a ways from the city. Fayvr, an old army buddy of our father is stationed there. Though all he does is stir that great pot of his all day. Rave took a shine to him right away though. Couldn't keep him away. I forget exactly how it happened, but suddenly his wings had furled for the first time. Now I don't know if you've been to this place or seen it in passing, but it's nestled on a narrow strip of land between two waterfalls and the second spills over a rather dizzying cliff face. Well, out popped his wings and it was just his misfortune that the wind kicked up and off he went. Right over the cliff!" Swan shook his head, exhaling sharply as he recalled the day.
"Yes that I can imagine would have given you quite the scare." The sin would nod, listening as he cooked. He placed several things on the table one at a time, some oars to go with the fruit, but also some eggs and salmon in case it didn't take the others fancy. Lastly, a pot of fresh tea in the center of the table. Then over to the door to call Raven in from outside.
Raven quit his kata when called. First to the bathroom to wash his hands and throw water on his face. His hair was already wet from perspiration, so more moisture would make little difference. He grabbed a towel to dry off a bit, leaving it to hang around his neck as he went to the table. He took a helping of oats and set about to eating them after he had thanked Tidus for preparing the food.
"Ah, Rave. I was just regaling our host with the tale of your ascension day." Swan said dishing himself up some of the salmon and eggs. " I can continue, unless you'd like to take the lead?"
"Not much to tell." Raven said softly. "I foolishly got blown off a cliff and had to be saved because my wings were to weak..."
"Yes, well..." Swan said clearing his throat. " Robin thought the entire affair quite hilarious, but poor Dove. A bit overly wound our dear, sweet Dove. He could be ever so excitable and he fainted dead away. Right into the stream. Robin or Faryvr probably would have been able to talk you back to the cliff face for a landing if they had not had to drag Dove from the water and over to the fire. I tried my best, but...I panicked seeing you so high up with ever such a long way down..."
Raven sat hunched over his bowl of oats. His expression darkening as Swan spoke of Robin and Dove, though he said nothing.
"They sound like good men." Tidus offered. Reaching for a piece of fruit, he sat watching the interaction between the two. "You all got along well?"
"Depends on who you ask when. Penning that poem in Robin's hand was a work of art...but I do recall it was...Ah yes...Wren..." Swan's voice faltered and fell into silence. From the storm cloud that was the younger Sin's face this was a very good thing.
Raven shoved in another spoon of oats and wiped his mouth. "I'm done. May I be excused?" He asked
Wolf shrugged at Raven with a look of curiosity. Sure, he'd kept the younger male from doing things that might endanger his life. Food and eating not among them.
"You've not finished your bowl. You well know one should never take more food than they can to eat. " Swan admonished his younger sibling.
"Your brother needs to eat beyond hunger, Swan." Tidus admonised.
" What does that mean? Hunger was never a motivator for Rave. Thick as thieves, Rave, here small as he was would ever tag along with or without provisions. Got us in no end of trouble. What with Robin constantly daring this one to all manner of crazy things." Swan shook his head smiling at fond memories. "Rave would -always- attempt whatever insanity Robby put him up to. Not a fearful bone in this one's body." Swan laughed.
Raven shoveled the remaining contents of the bowl in front of him until it was empty. He set both hands on the table a bit harder than he had intended to which caused some items on the table to rattle. Picking up his bowl, he showed it to Swan. "Empty. May I be excused, please."
Tidus looked between the two, taking a bite of his fruit, he could have interjected but instead wanted to see how the situation might play out between the pair. He sat back in his chair crossing a leg over the other.
Swan, on the other hand, jumped at the sudden sound and his rattling plate. "What's gotten into you? This...this behavior is...well... terribly rude to our host. Apologize this instant!" Swan said looking quite cross.
Raven looked straight ahead, the muscles in his jaw clenched. He exhaled through his nose as he took a long blink.
"I'm sorry." He apologized. Then turning his head to face Swan, he stared at his eldest brother as coldly as he would anyone on the street before swallowing. His eyes closed. "Swan..." He begged, his voice shaking softly. "may I -please- be excused..."
"Swan, Raven is not a child despite the fact he's slamming the table like one. No one is anyone's keeper here. Can we all keep the testosterone down to a minimum? If you want to boss someone around how about that soon to be bride of yours..." Tidus took a long breath through his nose watching the two. Shooting a glance to Swan as he spoke hoping beyond hope not to have to cut Raven's brother down right there in his kitchen.
"I..I..." He stammered. Swan had been taken aback by his brother's cold stare. He was stunned by the other's rebuke. Taking Tidus' words as a release, he stood, taking his spoon and bowl from the table.
"Rave...I..." Swan said with a furrowed brow as he reached out a hand to touch his brother's arm. Raven flinched at the contact. The spoon jumping out of the bowl to clatter on the floor. The dark haired Sin picked it back up and took his dishes to the sink in silence. Swan, a concerned and confused look on his face looked over the table to Tidus.
Raven set the spoon and bowl down in the sink. He turned, went back to Swan. He stood beside him for a moment before heaving a sigh. "I'm sorry..." He said in a husky voice. He raised his hand from his side, placing it against the far side of Swan's head as he pulled the broad chested male over to him, holding him there for a moment before releasing the other's head. As he removed his arm, his index finger traced a line down his brother's nose before dropping his hand and walking toward the door and outside to train more. Swan sat across from Tidus blinking back tears.
"Looks like the two of you have quite a lot to work out." The blue eyed male remarked, folding his arms over his chest and looking back at Swan with knitted brows "... and I highly doubt that Raven is going to make it easy on you." Tidus found this very odd. What had he just seen? trying to keep his confusion to himself as he watched the two, taking a sip of his tea hiding his face
After collecting himself, Swan would say. "...Dove...he could never stand to see us angry. He made us apologize to each other." Swan sat back in his chair. "I just don't understand why he's so angry with me all the time. Every time I try to touch him, he pulls away... I tried to stroke his hair last night and the same thing, like a moment ago. He'd pull away like my touch burned him or something..." He sighed sadly.
"He's a man who has taken to loosing his grip on reality and has been taught to be used to being hurt. It's less that it's you or your touch, and more that his emotional flesh is burned entirely and -any- person laying a hand on him will sting." Tidus explained, sitting back in his chair. "He's going to be very resistant when it comes to being touched."
"Resistant..." He murmured. " I hate to try and stay my hand. Raven has always been soft spoken and after he ascended he grew quieter even than Dove. He'd express himself through physical contact more than coming out and saying something. Fear? I can't imagine Rave afraid of anything. I've never seen him show even the smallest hint of fear...over anything..." He sighed. "He had nightmares when he was very young, but that past and what child wouldn't have bad dreams after seeing a White Wing bloody the ice just a few away from them..." He'd continue before falling silent.
The snow-maned Sin blinked at the first explanation, his eyes narrowing some but again he'd let it go. "Everyone has fear... there's no one in Ateria that doesn't have fear.. to think otherwise is on you."
Swan would think of this for a moment. " I guess I have grown used to sitting behind strong stone walls. The only thing I've been afraid of for years is someone swooping in an ruining a business deal...and father, of course should I allow that to happen..."
"But there is threat, there is fear, and I'm sure that if you were stuck in the middle of a desert alone, you'd find more fear that that of your father or business deals." The Scout observed.
"Oh, I'd be afraid to be alone right outside the city gates. I'd be terrified alone in some desert." Swan said not understanding Tidus' reference. "In fact, I do believe this is the first time I've been away from home without an armed escort. You seem a capable male who has overcome what happened...to you..." Swan would pause. "You don't seem afraid."
"If I am in control of the situation, usually I am not afraid but as I said everyone has fear, everyone has a breaking point." Tidus explained. He took a bite of his fruit before speaking once more. "If I control the situation, if I control my own fear and pain, my mind...there isn't much left for them to take."
"Hmmm, that makes sense. While I cannot speak of -pain- other than the odd paper cut I do have to keep my fear, thoughts and emotions under tight reign lest those around me sense weakness. 'Showing weakness is worst than death' as father would say..." He'd muse.
"What to you is weakness?" The Sin asked. The more Tidus heard about their father the less he liked.
"Well, not being strong I should say. Being afraid , losing con..." Swan's voice dropped off and he was silent for a moment. "Oh, Rave...This must be...just terrible for him..." He whispered, his brow furrowed.
Finishing off his fruit Tidus ran his finger tips across his brow in thought, eyes closing as he did.
"What should I do? How can I help him? I know what father would do...but I'm not him nor do I think I'd have the strength to go about doing it..." Swan asked somewhat breathlessly.
"What would your father have done?" Tilting his head listening, brows lightly knitted wanting to know what kind of mind set their father had.
"Well, he'd make Rave face his fears and overcome them. I remember after Robin fell off the roof and broke his arm..." Swan shuddered. "He took to hanging back from the edge of high places. Father -wasn't - pleased..."
"And how would he make Raven face -his- fears?" The Scout probed.
"I really have no idea. It's not like you could just hold him out over the edge of a cliff until he stopped screaming...Afraid of being hurt? How does one go about making one no longer afraid of that?" Swan said shaking his head.
Tidus imagined a man terrorizing his children to rid them of fear, huffing out a long hard breath through his nose. "One doesn't..." He'd blurt out, their father reminding him of his grandfather. "Fearing getting hurt is a natural instinct, a survival one at that. He needs something to hold on to to keep his focus."
"Something to hold onto. Something to focus on. A pet? Should I get Rave a pet? Like one of those needy little things women seem so fond of? Some of them can be had not to focus on... God's! That yappy little thing of Eydis', I just want to wring it's little neck some times" Swan grumbled, shaking his hands wrapped around the air infront of him gesturing dramatically.
"...No.. I think Raven needs something more meaningful." Tidus corrected.
"More meaningful...A job! I'm sure I can find something in the company for Rave to do." Swan said brightly.
"No... I think perhaps bodyguard work, protecting someone personally." Tidus said with a shake of his head.
"Perfect! We have a private security branch. To protect the the convoys and warehouses and such. He can be my personal bodyguard! He wouldn't even have to do much as I already have six." Swan smiled cheerfully.
"Ahh..." Running his hand through his hair and scratching his head "I wasn't thinking that so to speak but perhaps ask Raven's thoughts on the matter. It's not me who needs to be comfortable with the idea." Standing from the table and leaning over to take the dishes, he walked them to the sink.
"What were you thinking then? I know Rave and even if he didn't want to. The dutiful brother, he'd most likely agree to being a part of my security detail if I asked him about it." Swan said.
"I'm sure he cares for your safety and all, but with so many other people on staff I doubt he'd feel valued." Tidus pointed out, filling the sink, talking to the other over his shoulder. "Raven has a special skill set, he'd need someone whom actually serves a higher purpose than business a 'real' target."
"He -is- valued! I would personally see to it that he felt valued!" Swan proclaimed. "A real target? I'm not sure we have anyone like that in the company that doesn't already have a Templar and Cleric allocated to them..."
"But is that what -Raven- wants, don't you think if he was interest in business before he'd have already been involved?" Tidus asked.
"Well, Rave wasn't really given the choice. Father didn't bother to teach Robin about the family business either. As eldest, the company would obviously be lead by me after father retired or Dove as second born, should something untoward happen to me. Raven, being fourth in line was left pretty far out of the loop as far as involvement in the business and all." Swan said twirling a piece of fruit idly on the table.
"...It sounds like few of you had real choices about anything." Knowing first hand what that was like. "Now seems like a good time to start. I'll see what I can find. Talk to Raven about what he wants." Tidus said. Draining the sink once the dishes were done.
"I'll do that. Thank you Aesir." Swan said with a warm smile. "I happy that my little brother has been in such good hands. He's lucky to have you by his side and I'm even luckier that you have chosen to befriend me."
"Tidus." He'd smirk offering him a handshake. "...just call me Tidus, I'd not say he's in great hands but I'll do what I can."
"Tidus..." Swan said returning the smirk. The fact that the other male had not given him a true name the first time not going unnoticed.
"Now of you'll excuse me I'm going to take a shower, while your here I can get sow things done that have had to wait." The blue eyed male said.
"By all means. I apologize if I or my brother have been an inconvenience. While I shall remain here for the time being so as to maintain Rave's routine, I do plan on acquiring a home of our own in due time. I trust I can count on you to help me set it up with such things as he will need. Like those dummy things outside. I suppose I should have a few installed in the yard of the house I find..."
"It's nothing I just want to see to some things and yes, none of those would be any issue. They're fine for him now but he needs something else to focus on eventually..." Tidus responded.
Swan rose from his chair. He took three pieces of fruit, juggling them as he walked to the door to go sit outside and watch Raven work out in the yard.