Disclaimer: Chrono Cross isn't mine, in case you hadn't guessed. If I'd created Chrono Cross, then Harle would be alive, Karsh would marry Riddel, Guile really would be Magus, all those Trigger characters wouldn't be killed off, and there would be a lengthy hot-tub scene involving Norris, sex toys, and a can of whipped cream (kidding!!). Anyway, CC belongs to those all-powerful geniuses down at Square. Too bad.
If this is messed up, don't blame me. It's past 1. My brains are complete Jello.
Third Wheel
You two are getting married? Great!
Sure I'll be best man, Dario!
I'm just happy that you two have found each other.
Karsh tenderly picked up the bellflower that he had thrown to the ground. No matter what it symbolized, it had still come from Riddel.
I love you, Dario.
Karsh mashed the flower in his hands just thinking about it, scattering the petals around the room and getting pollen on his hands. What he would have given to hear Riddel say those words to him.
Not the Dario part, the 'I love you' part.
Dario! Karsh screamed inwardly. I hate you, you son of a bitch! Best friends aren't supposed to do things like that! Almost immediately Karsh hated himself for even thinking that. This is Dario, you bastard! I guy who tutored you every day on the court, the guy who listened to you gripe in the morning, the guy who has been your closest friend ever since you could pick up an axe!
Karsh cried out in frustration, picking up his axe and throwing it against his bedroom wall where it stuck there. He walked up to it, yanked it out, and backed up, then threw it again, not caring about the mess he was making of the wall.
"Stupid – STUPID!" Karsh kicked over a lamp while he was at it, then sat down on his bed, suddenly drained of all energy.
There was a soft tap on the door. "Karsh, honey?" It was his mother. "Are ye alright in there?"
"NO!" Karsh yelled back, still giving the floor a venomous look.
Zippa opened the door, took a look at the wall, and went to sit by her son. "What's made ye so angry, son?"
"You wouldn't understand." Karsh growled.
"Ah," Zippa said knowingly. "It's a lass, isn't it." Karsh scowled, not even dignifying that with an answer. "Hmm… let me guess who 'tis. She tapped her nose in thought. "Lady Riddel."
"You weren't even thinking about it," Karsh accused.
"I ca' tell when my own son has fallen head o'er heels in love, ye know."
"I haven't fallen 'head over heels in love'," Karsh began. "I've just – "
"Fallen head o'er heels in love. Ah, I see. Such a difference!" Zippa teased.
"It doesn't even matter." Karsh punched the mattress. "She's to be married to Dario. They're both completely smitten with each other. It was pointless for me even to think about it." It took a massive force of will to keep his voice level. "Why should I even try to compete with Dario, anyway? He wins in everything. He's so fucking perfect, what woman wouldn't want to get hitched with him?" His voice was iced with bitterness.
Zippa lost her smile. "There's other fish in the sea, son."
"No!" Karsh yelled. "None – not a single fucking fish is even close to Riddel!" Karsh swallowed a choking laughter, for fear it might turn into sobs. A dragoon Deva never cries. Dario would never cry. "Just go away, Mom. Leave me alone."
Zippa nodded sadly and left the room. Karsh yelled in fury one more time, then buried his face in a pillow, still screaming. He didn't sleep well that night.
But there was one thing he could say about that awful day: Not once, not once had he shed a single tear.
~*~
I think that was the first time I'd ever been really angry with Dario. Sure I'd been mad at him before, about other things – little, petty things. But that was the first time that I really wanted him gone – not dead, I didn't get to that until a while later – just gone, far, far away, so I'd never have to see his dumb, blonde face again.
I was really, really pissed.
Well, suffice to say that on the mission to Isle of the Damned, neither of us was very happy. He was pissed about postponing his wedding with Riddel, and I was pissed about his wedding with Riddel, period. Of course, he didn't know that. It made for a very silent walk (besides that hacking up monsters part – that wasn't very silent).
I can't even remember what our original mission to Isle of the Damned was. I knew that we both wanted to see the fabled Masamune, but we were sent there for some other reason, which I can't remember for the life of me. Whatever, it's not important.
You know, I've always thought it should have been me possessed by that sword. I was the one with the negative emotions, not him. What part of Dario'' psyche could that sword possibly twist? That guy was a fucking saint. I guess I'll never know.
Then he was there, facing me, with this malicious grin on his face. I didn't know what the fuck was going on. He came up to attack me, and I was totally confused. What was he doing?
But as soon as Riddel's name came out of his lips, I was furious. No matter what kind of evil sword had possessed him, he wasn't going to lay a finger on Riddel. That one sick twisted moment when my axe connected with his flesh was possibly one of the best in my life. At that moment, I wanted him dead. I wanted him dead, away from Riddel, to stop taking away everything I had made for myself.
Immediately afterwards, I threw up. Ironic, rather. I'd finally beaten Dario and I hated myself for doing it (of course I'd never thought of beating him as in killing him, but you know what I mean).
I didn't know what I was going to tell anybody at that point. My brain hadn't even gotten past the point that oh god I've just killed Dario. Then that cat-man came up to me with a great excuse: monsters killed him. It was plausible, right? And I sure as hell wasn't going to tell anybody that I had killed him.
Yeah, they all took the excuse, but most of them didn't really believe it. Riddel believed me (either she's more naïve than I thought, or she trusts me more than I thought – I hope it's the latter), but Glenn sure as hell didn't. He was dead certain that I had killed Dario. From that point on we stopped really being friends, I guess. He used to look up to me in a kinda older-brother sort of way, and by that point he hated my guts.
Well, that suited me fine. I didn't like him either, the little… frogface.
Viper never really went either way – but he had loved Dario like a son (soon to be son-in-law), and he was probably more inclined to think I did it.
No, I wasn't very popular around Viper Manor then. I think there were only two people who really believed my story: Zoah and Riddel. Zoah just always had faith in me, and Riddel… was just kind, generous Riddel.
Dammit all, it always comes back to her. Why can't I stop thinking about that woman?
