AN: :::angst warning::: *scary voice from out of the blue that sounds like the female voice you always hear while standing in the lines of major attractions* Attention, readers. Be informed that the chapter you are about to read contains a high degree of angst as well as bits of personal suffering, emotional turmoil, and a high-risk level for contracting third-degree awkwardness. Reader discretion is advised. :::angst warning::: In plain English, if you can't handle situations with a lot of awkward silence and inner conflicts... well.. you really shouldn't be reading my fics, because that's what I always write about! ^^ *hides from the Steinatrix fans* It's not my fault! *dodges rotten fruit* Really! The characters do what they want! I just... write it down! (Hey, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! But on a much fluffier, happier note, try to remember that just because they're not speaking doesn't mean they're not -thinking-)
She had planned to take an inconspicuous leave right after the air cab had stopped at the main part of Lindblum. She had planned to threaten the oil-covered engineer with her sword so that he wouldn't make a big uprising. She had planned to be gone before anyone took notice. In fact, she had planned on them never taking notice. She had even planned on leaving Lindblum by foot shortly after.
But, as she had learned early on, things never worked out the way she had planned.
"You know, a feisty broad like you probably kills the men, am I right?" The oil-covered soldier pressured from across the small air cab.
"You wouldn't believe." She said, a false smile playing on her face. Inside, her stomach turned.
"Yeah... bet you got some real potential... not like most of the women... no... ten times better, I bet..."
Who was he fooling? Beatrix could openly tell how heavily laced with innuendo his sentences presented themselves to be. Any more and she felt she might just jump out of the air cab...
"And I bet..."
"Stop this cab!" She yelled, ignoring the fact that the operators couldn't hear her. After a moment of silence she began to pull on the door.
"We're nowhere near the station!" One of the engineers protested.
"The platform isn't even that close."
"Then I'll jump." She said as she thrust the door open. Noticing the engineer had been right, and that they were nowhere near the station and the closest platform was a considerable length away, she backed up in the cab, a path being cleared for her, and broke into a run before any of the men could stop her. Just as she ran out of space to prepare she leapt from the small vehicle, managing to clutch the side of the platform. She took the opportunity to look down.
"Damnit!" She cursed quietly as her momentum made her continue to swing. Her grip on the side of the platform was beginning to falter.
Dagger had noticed the woman jump from the cab and was now standing against the window, a look of concern upon her face.
"We must do something!"
"It's not safe, My Queen. And it was her decision to jump..."
Dagger sent him a glare. Sometimes she wondered if he had a heart at all. She watched as the woman tried her hardest to get her arm further onto the platform.
Beatrix had finally managed to gain a good enough hold that she could reach down with her other hand and grab her sword. Underestimating the difficulty, she slipped not once, but twice, and took a small break before trying again. She noticed that both air cabs were stalled now. Apparently her ploy to draw less attention to herself had failed miserably.
She held her sword in her right hand and dug her fingers into the cement of the platform with her left. She looked the sword over before holding it to her chest.
'It's no Save the Queen, but at least it has a few spells...'
A blinding light fell upon her just as she lost her grip on the platform. Dagger turned away in horror.
"That poor woman..."
"Look!" One of the engineer's said, pointing to the woman. She had not fallen to her death below. Rather, she was floating effortlessly in midair. Within moments, she had set herself upon the platform. The over-enthused men in the second cab began cheering. Dagger, however, simply wore a knowing smile. As the woman turned to leave, she opened her cab door.
"I command you to stop." Dagger said, trying to stifle a chuckle.
Beatrix turned with nervous uncertainty, pulling her hood down even further. "With all due respect, Queen Garnet, I am not a citizen of Alexandria."
"Yes, I am well aware of that. I'm also aware of the fact that there is only one woman I know who could pull off such a stunt and then avoid the limelight afterward. I'm here to tell you it's not going to work this time, General."
Beatrix's eyes widened. She knew. How could she? There wasn't time for such meaningless questions, but she was frozen in place, and nothing else would come to her.
Steiner, who had been surprised at the feat yet outwardly treating it as if any mortal could pull it off quite flawlessly, himself included, now gained a sudden, unrivaled interest in the conversation his queen was having with the woman from the streets.
"I appreciate you granting me such a title, Queen Garnet... but I'm... I'm not the person you think I am." It was partially true. She was not the regal, courageous general she had once been.
"Is that so? Take a look at your bracelet and tell me you are not who I believe you to be."
"B....Beatrix...?" Steiner asked.
Beatrix's eyes shut tightly. This wasn't happening. The world was not crashing down on her now. It was all just a bad dream. When she opened her eyes, however, she noticed her red rose bracelet and silently cursed it.
"Alexandria is still a part of you, General Beatrix. Please, I'm asking you as your friend, not your queen. Please, come back home."
She waited for Steiner to pitch in something, but he never did. His eyes were fixated on her, and she could see the pain he tried to hide behind them. That alone made it easy for her to refuse.
"I cannot. I've done far too much damage."
"Then you can make up for it. All I'm asking is a day at most, Beatrix. Come back to Alexandria for a day. If it does not suit you, then so be it. I will ask nothing further of you."
Beatrix thought seriously for a moment, gaze downcast. She owed them - all of them - for the pain she had caused them. She wanted to make it up to them, but she felt that by being around them - anywhere near them - she could scarcely do so. Surely they didn't feel toward her the same as they had before she left.
"A day. But I can promise nothing more. And if you don't mind, I'll walk to the airship."
'Wonder what kinda weaponry she's got under that skirt... holy fortress! I've never seen such a prime cut in my existence...'
"For the love of God, will all of the perverted men in this stupid town just STOP THINKING!!!" Eiko yelled.
The man seated at the bar looked up from his previous endeavor of watching the waitress.
'You did choose to go to a bar, Eiko...' Mog began.
"You're not helping!" In an instant, she hopped down from the bar stool and stormed out the door, bumping into Zidane.
'Jeez... another pretty woman just throwing herself at me... too bad I'm already taken... well.. it depends...'
"Not you again!" Eiko growled, picking herself up from the ground.
'Oh... it's just Eiko...'
"Just Eiko? JUST Eiko? How can you say that?"
"Say what? Huh? I didn't say a word!"
'I was thinking it, but.... hey... wait a minute... that's not the first time she's done that today...'
"Um... eheh... time for me to get going!" Eiko smiled sweetly and turned to flee.
"Hold on a second, Eiko. Can you...?"
She let out a sigh. "Let's just say I'm tired of hearing about all of Dagger's 'fine-looking' body parts and I'm glad you don't say half of the things you think..."
Crimson swept Zidane's face.
"Oh please. It's not as bad as most of the stuff I've heard today."
"But why were you...?"
"Personal reasons." She smiled sadistically. "Now don't you wish you could read minds?"
Zidane nodded, already preoccupied as he watched an airship come into view. The Invincible. Or, as it had so lovingly been called, the giant eye in the sky that blew up, among many other places, Alexandria. Circling the castle, the ship manuevered its way to the harbor. At first, it had seemed too large to fit, but it managed to land easily in the water. Zidane rushed toward the palace.
"Hey!" Eiko yelled, chasing after him.
A very awkward silence had presented itself on the airship. Beatrix had sat with the others, which Dagger commended, as she had thought the former general would surely choose someplace secluded and as far away from them as she could manage. She had watched the woman and seen the way she would ocasionally look up, only to be met by what she imagined to be a hurt-filled glare from Steiner, and her heart ached.
She had never really understood why Beatrix had left, but she had never hated her for it. She was positive she had good reasons, and she was content in believing just that. However, she couldn't say the same for Steiner. She figured, if Beatrix ever returned, that he would at least speak to her, try and get her to stay, but thus far, he had made no such attempts. It was unlike him, and that was what made Dagger's heart ache all the more.
She was relieved when they finally reached the harbor, and in fact, she was the first to depart from the ship. She couldn't stand the tension. Even the engineers, who had raised such a ruckus previously, had been silent the entire trip, save a few coughs and sneezes.
Upon reaching the top of the steps, she turned, an irritated look set upon her face. "We may all stand in silence for quite sometime if none of you chooses to talk. Should that happen, there's a great chance none of us will ever leave this harbor. I don't care what you say to each other, but something, anything... please.." Her words were general and indirect, yet she stared straight at Steiner and Beatrix when she spoke them.
The engineers looked at each other and began talking heartily, eventually walking past Dagger and into the palace. Beatrix had managed to mix herself in the crowd and had disappeared after a while. Steiner had followed quietly behind the masses, taking the opposite direction of Beatrix.
Dagger let out a silent scream. 'That wasn't what I had in mind!' With a final sigh, she too, entered the palace, resolving simply to stay out of other people's business. Beatrix's stubborn nature would win out, she would avoid everyone and everything while staying in Alexandria, and as soon as the day was up, she would leave. It was best not to meddle in such determined affairs, and besides, she had other duties to attend to.
AN: Ya know what... I hate comments. Yep... hate 'em. Don't want 'em. Despise 'em. No comments for me! Nope! Nope! Nope! (And if you believe that... well... stop it right now! You're scaring me! ^^ I do want comments, ne? You guys have been great with them so far! Only received I think, one or two on chapter three. I didn't give it much time, though. I would've waited until later to post more, but truth be told, I had it finished already. So, do a starving author a favor, ne?)