| *Save My Tears - Chapter 5- Ever so Complicated* Notes: None Really! This is just the fifth chapter. Please note that none of what I am describing happened in the game, or was mentioned having happened before the game. This is just a product of my overly-active imagination! MWHAHAHAH!!! Ah well. I hope you enjoy. ^_^ I bet you thought I'd never get it out! IM SOOORRYYYY!!!!!! *huggles everyone- then goes out to chase Albert, Legolas and Lloyd* ----- It's hard to grip the present When your life seems somehow won. That you've struggled all your life and know It's easier said then done. ----- The forest shone that afternoon. Splinters of yellow sunlight danced over the brambles above, and as the wind gently played along each leaf and flower, spots of it's radiance bore down upon the earthen floor below. The utter peace of it was what entranced Rose the most, she supposed. As improper as the world could be, a moment of perfect beauty seemed nearly mythical. Birds hummed above, chittering endlessly across the sky. Serdio's vast rolling mountains stood far into the distance, bathed in an almost surreal dance of sunlight. And still. Softly, the raven haired dragoon lowered her chin and glanced at a spatter of blood. It was etched just along the top of her dark violet cuff, curving towards the palm of her right hand. Having been walking some hours now, Rose felt the muscles of her legs slightly knot in confusion when she then stopped; gently smearing it across the deep brown bark of a nearby tree. Lloyd, having traveled silently beside her all this time, stilled some few paces ahead of her. "Is something wrong?" "Not at all." Rose answered, voice flat and without even the slightest trace of emotion. The blood now gone, she lifted her eyes to his own. "How is the boy?" Draped across his shoulders lay Dart, one hand hanging over Lloyd's right arm and the other lightly tossed into his vagrant silver hair. He'd been carrying the child some time now; after his falling asleep. He'd been scared and confused during the fight with the Sandorans, but with that unfortunate encounter in the past, it was on to Seles they went. Dart simply hadn't been able to stay awake throughout. Lloyd curved his neck just slightly, watching the blonde's face a moment. "Seems fine to me." And then he nodded absently. "I thank you for your help. Then." Rose walked up to him, gaze ahead. "So you've told me." A smirk lighted her features. "Five or six times." The two exchanged a long look. "And why Are you coming with me to Seles?" Lloyd asked, beginning forwards again. Rose instantly followed, long legs matching his stride without any form of effort. "THAT.... you've asked twice. And I told you. I need a few supplies, and I don't want to subject myself to that loud, pompous city they call Lohan. Seles will suit my needs fine." "Ah." Lloyd managed in lame response. He yawned slightly, watching the woman next to him and shifting the boy on his back. He found her as fascinating as he had before... only now in a different sense. He had known, surely, that she could defend herself upon meeting her for the first time. He did *not* however know that Rose was so deadly. It... had startled him, he supposed. And she had also identified him as a Wingly. It was a very, *very* rare few that could look and simply know. Not many people remembered the race of his heritage, and therefore thought nothing of his platinum hair. His blood red eyes. Rose had breathed the word at his ear as if she'd known it for years. Closing his eyes briefly to clear his thoughts, Lloyd sighed. He never did ask her about their meeting in the tavern, and why she had so quickly left him. Somehow it didn't seem appropriate now... and in another sense, he didn't want to invade a privacy that seemed both thick and menacing. He'd left to find her one foolish dark night, and Rose had instead found him. The odds of that happening, in fact; were oddly misplaced... but he couldn't complain just now. Gods knew Doel would be doing enough of that when he returned to Kazas. Lloyd still wondered what inner demon possessed him to do this in the first place... "You have been to Serdio often?" The sharp voice of his companion began. Lloyd snapped to attention. "You could say that." He answered quietly. "Why do you ask?" "You know our path well." "Hnnn." And again, a brief silence. "Rose, if I might ask you-" "Business." She said roughly. How in the hells she had known he was going to ask why she was in Serdia baffled Lloyd beyond words. "And If your wondering how I knew you were a Wingly- it's safe to say I've met others of your kind. Damn if I'll understand why you held back against those idiot sandorans." Rose rounded an offending root underfoot and narrowed her eyes. "Not quite the smart fellow, are you? Magic should be your strength, downplayed over the centuries or no." He gently smiled, wincing in the bright light above. "I would have if I'd been made to, but I do not favor unveiling my origins for reasons that... well, your probably aware of, ne?" Rose hmph'd, and quickly averted the subject. "And the young one? Dart? You said you told those soldiers he was your son..?" "It was a good idea at the time, but we aren't related. I think I mentioned before that I'd found him just outside Tiberoa... poor thing. Said his Aunt... or a friend really, lived in Seles. It'll take a bit of time off my original objective to get him there, but I couldn't just *leave* the child..." He was about to mention Dart had been a survivor of Neet, but the look of amused shock that slipped over Rose' features prevented the action. He raised a silver brow, wondering. "It's odd..." "Hmm?" "To meet people that still care." And Lloyd stay quiet a moment, drawn into his own thoughts. The forest eventually dropped away; tree becoming ferns, shrubs, and then grass. Before the pair realized Seles had appeared upon the horizon, they had entered a vast plain of Tall Grass that engulfed the landscape with crab flowers and spring thistle. Dart awoke only once to sneeze as the bountiful pollen invaded his nose, but fell slumbering across Lloyd's broad shoulders before the Wingly could even turn to check on him. *** "I'm going to KILL him." Diaz looked up, blinking once, to find Doel pacing at the other end of his throne room. Like a caged lion, the emperor strode back and forth, head bowed and eyes glinting dangerously under the unnatural violet light that tossed about the chamber. A smirk twitched the blonde's icy mouth a moment, then returning to it's indifferent frown of choice. Humans were so impatient... "He'll return, Doel." The cloaked man slurred, eyes narrowing. "Yes. But WHEN." Stopping a moment to rub at the black stubble along his chin, Doel let out a long, angry hiss of air and crossed his arms. A crimson/black cape flew madly over his shoulders as he swerved in place, pinning Diaz with an ominous, unwavering stare. "It's been what, nearly three days? Doesn't that fool have any idea that he's wasting *our* time with that... that run about endeavor of his!? black monster indeed! There are things to be done! Tactics to be-" "Honestly." And Diaz folded a book in his lap, sitting erect in a chair that lay nestled between the shadows of the room. The Sandoran frowned at his interruption, glowered, and then drew a thin mouth tight when his company continued. "This venture of Lloyd's may even prove beneficial, come later months." Brief silence, and then; "Gods- how CAN you be so confident!? You should have stopped him when this all began..." Diaz lifted one finger, drawing it throughout the air slowly. "Cards are played in unpredictable ways, at times. Power seeks Power, Doel. The two are drawn to one another, and I want to see where it leads..." One boot slammed downwards on that last remark as the emperor's armor clad frame stalked forwards."Life is no game of riddles! Run your own private circus should you wish, but NOT in this time of war!!!" Diaz stood so abruptly that Doel took a step back in surprise- startled but not fazed. He fought to contain the royal Wingly blood that cursed loudly throughout his veins. That which demanded to send this IMPUDENT little FOOL into hell. That menacing voice which was Melbu Frahma; contained but confident, telling himself it wouldn't be long. ~And it won't. It won't~ Patience... the gods knew he had enough of that. Doel watched the brief fire that had leapt to Diaz's eyes slowly ebb away, and simply shook his head. He was arrogant enough to disregard the obvious hostility between them, and (never one to be frightened or cowed) certainly not ready to back off. He respected Diaz, yes. He was not subservient to him. "Pressing buttons, am I?" And Diaz's snapped his head up, having moved again to his seat. "Quite." A smirk. The blonde returned it with all the deadly grace of a cobra ready to strike. ***** Rose realized that a shower wasn't just necessary. It felt *damned* good too. After entering the inn at Seles and hanging her armor upon the racks nearby, the smooth wooden wash area just seemed to inviting to ignore. Dirt streaked her face- and old blood clung along wounds that ranged from a simple thorn scratch to sword blow. Hot running water chased the red scars from her flesh. Sterile and clean- they could now heal... and her skin lightened just a shade as dust from long, empty roads was finally swept away. Turning off the water and gently wringing her hair, she chuckled to herself without any real cause. Dart had still been sleeping when they arrived, and both Lloyd and Rose had decided it was best not to wake him just yet. Unfortunately there had been only one vacant room open to rent for the night, and they reluctantly agreed to stay with one another. Besides- it wouldn't be more then two days at most. Lloyd perhaps even less- as he said that when Dart awoke, he would bring him to his aunt and continue on his way. Rose felt somehow obliged to ask where he was going... but thought better of it. It wasn't any of her business. Rose took a dark green, wondrously plush towel from the small hanger aside the wash room and swiftly dried off. She shook a bit more water from her hair, wrapped the long length of cloth about her frame until decent enough to pad from the room- and barked an order to her company. "Turn around, or I'll kill you." Lloyd began to laugh despite himself. He was already facing away from the door to the showers, absently watching over Dart as he slept. "I'd believe that. I moved your armor next to your bed. Some odd little woman came by beforehand to return your clothing. Did a good job cleaning it, though... you had more blood in that-" "I know." She said flatly, and heard him sigh as she moved to her bed. One room- two cots. Lloyd seemed willing enough to sleep on a chair as long as dart got one of them. She had offered him the second bed, but he'd declined and pointed at the floor, muttering something about; 'You could probably use it more then me." Pulling on her light armored shackle-throw and the black tunic beneath it, Rose briefly ran her eyes to regard her unusual companion. He was sitting on one of the couches in the room, watching the child who slept nearby; with both hands thrown behind his head in a haphazard display of casual prowess. Why she didn't feel as uncomfortable as she 'should' around him.... was as interesting as it was disturbing. Even so, it could not be denied. By hell- when she had first met him, she had been willing to kill him for a brief moment simply because he was a Wingly. Another voice in the back of her head stated bluntly; "You were half expecting him to jump at the chance to get a room with you- because all men are, of course, men." Oh- she'd had interesting experiences with male 'companions' before. Most of which ended up quavering in a corner. Lloyd- didn't do a 'damned' thing but try to remain helpful. Rose couldn't.... she just... ~People aren't LIKE that. I haven't known him for more then a DAY- and my guard is slipping. Hell if I've lived this long to go soft at the sight of some pretty face.~ At that thought- rose almost choked. ~And if I ever- EVER let another thought like that slip into my head- I'll run off the nearest damned cliff.~ "The wall is getting boring to look at..." "Shut up." Another chuckle. Rose fastened up her belt and hip slide, then nodded to herself and eventually came alongside the Wingly. Dart, sprawled over the bed in front of them, made a small noise and rolled over in his sleep- further tousling his fair blonde hair. The two adults stood silently a moment, both realizing almost simultaneously that they were rather unused to children.... "... you say he will be going to his Aunt's?" "He calls her his aunt, but she's more a close friend of the family..." Lloyd pushed a strand of silver from his eyes, bloody hues dancing in the light that streamed from a nearby window. A stark quiet. "It will probably be best for everyone if I lapse his memory." Lloyd began. "The sandorans..." Rose quietly shook her head. "It's not all that necessary- but I agree if only because I don't need the boy to be... I wouldn't care for him to be able to recognize us at a later date." In all truth, that was Lloyd's exact reasoning for the initial suggestion. Dart was a good kid. But given that he worked for the ideals of Sandora... well- precaution was his nature. Almost sadly, Lloyd pursed his lips. "Tomorrow, then. When we take him back." Rose nodded, and after a long strong of quiet... "Now what?" She looked at him oddly, a brow quirked and stare cold as ever. "Well... I'm stuck here until Dart wakes up- and you need to get supplies. Would you care for some help?" and Lloyd shrugged as she waved a wary hand. "What I need will not take long to gather, although hopefully the blacksmith here has some sort of ability with Rapiers." She gestured to the long, deadly weapon that stood away against a wall near the door. "It's rather in disarray..." Lloyd returned to his seat, looking up at her. "Why not just get another weapon?" "I do not want another weapon." "Ah." And the rest of the afternoon was spent at an interesting distance from one another. They spoke infrequently and bluntly; on matters ranging from the Serdian war to Dart once again. Lloyd had once more begun to speak about how he had found the child, but never reached the mention of Neet. A handmaiden had come sauntering in around 6 o'clock to tell them dinner would be ready 15 past the hour. "Such a precious son, you have..." The woman had smiled at Rose before leaving. Lloyd didn't dare laugh in fear of being broken in half. He realized, somewhat lamely, that... he was actually enjoying himself to a point. Rose fascinated him- and Dart would be safely returned to a home that could guard him well. Perhaps being so long away from Kanzas was better for his mental health then he'd thought... hell- that place was depressing. Of course- from there his thoughts trailed yet again to Doel, then Diaz, and finally ended in a maddening swirl amongst what lay in a to-soon future. When he finally did sleep that night, it was with thoughts of chaos- and the black monster drifting along his conscience. ~... it will be a long road, Lloyd. Prepare yourself.~ And that was when, quietly drifting to dreams in the wee hours of a chill morning, that Lloyd noticed a dark black stone glint dangerously along Rose' armor chestplate. From a silver chain, it had snuck deftly from the folding of her clothes as she slept, and now glared back at him like one ferocious eye of the very dragon it belonged to. Once, Diaz had told him that power seeks power. ~Oh... gods...~ ****** MWHAAHAHHH!!!!! ^_^ Um... tell me how to improve!! and thanks for reading!!!! |