Musical accompaniment and lyrics: "Freefall (From Hand to Hand)" by Stavesacre
~
Selphie let out a relaxed breath, and carefully stretched onto the soft mat. She was alone in one of the martial arts training rooms, a part of the very accomodating fitness center that this particular building offered. Long mirrors lined the walls, and heavybags hung from the corners of the spacious room. The matted floor was taped off into sections for tournament sparring. Flourescent lights made the whitewashed walls seem to glow.
She had closed the doors and switched off the fans to lessen the noise. And she had also kindly asked the soldiers in the weightroom to turn down their radio. Upon seeing Selphie in her skintight black leotard, they had been more than happy to oblige. She had giggled and returned to the privacy of her room.
Closing her eyes, she sat with her legs crossed in the center of the mat. She breathed deeply; cleared her mind.
It's hot in here, she thought. Wish those fans didn't make so much noise... But she caught herself, and pushed the stray thought away. Relax...just relax...I haven't had a chance to loosen up in a while, I need this...
She gradually slowed her breaths, and felt her muscles begin to lose their tension.
It smells in here. Like cleaning chemicals, or something...and sweat too. Maybe mine. It is pretty hot in here...
Selphie growled at herself, and tried to relax again.
The door burst open. She leapt backward in shock, skidding on the smooth mat. Two tall, imposing Nebrian soldiers, dressed in military-looking sweatsuits, barged into the room in typically boisterous fashion.
"Sorry, ma'am," said one, nodding to Selphie. "Did we interrupt anything?"
Selphie smiled as politely as possible and stood up. "No," she half-sneered, but covered it up. "No, of course not!"
"Just letting you know we're done for the night. Would you mind shutting off the lights before you leave?"
"Oh, sure," sighed Selphie.
They thanked her and left, closing the door behind her. Selphie wiped her brow. "Let's try that again," she laughed to herself. She took her hundredth deep breath, ran her arms down her legs, and slowly stretched. She was surprised how painful it was. She held her arms at her knee for a minute, and closed her eyes, and soon felt herself loosening up. Her sweat-matted hair fell over her forehead.
Tick....tick....tick....tick....
"Hyne, what now?" she laughed. A round, white clock hung from the wall, accurately reporting each second to Selphie. She slapped her face, and stepped toward it. Her slippered foot caught a bump on the mat; it sent her flying through the air and falling clumsily onto the floor.
"Oh, forget it," she pouted, and stood, and leaned against the wall. She looked up at the clock; it was three in the morning.
Another sound caught her attention. A distant shout; a battlecry. It repeated itself at even-spaced intervals. Selphie recognized the voice as Aren's. It seemed to come from the other side of the wall.
Selphie left her private room, and took a few steps down a whitewashed hallway. The room next door was open, and as brightly lit as Selphie's. But the fans were blowing full-force; she could hear their low hums from outside. She poked her head through the open door for a look.
The room was constructed the same way as hers, but without mirrors, and it contained a bench press and other freeweights. Aren hung from a high chinup bar. He was upside down, his legs wrapped around the bar and his arms crossed over his chest. He gave a powerful shout, and pulled his torso into a situp, then relaxed, and repeated the motion in quick succession.
Selphie caught herself staring. Aren's legs and arms were fitted with his trusty steel armor, but his heavy breastplate was laying on the floor beside him. His chest and stomach were perfectly toned, his shoulders broad and imposing. His bald head, and his pale chest and back were lined with black tattoos. Sweat dripped from his closed eyes; he growled again and raised himself to the bar.
She couldn't help an innocent smile.
Aren flipped backward; he landed on his hands and rolled to his feet, facing the bar. His stance was proud; wide and alert.
Selphie coughed lightly. "Um...hi there," she whispered.
Aren spun one-eighty; Selphie waved meekly as he realized it was her.
"Oh, hello Sel..." he stopped short for a moment, his grey eyes rather taken aback as he noticed her form-fitting attire. Selphie hid a bashful smile and turned slightly away as Aren gathered his thoughts.
"Hi, Selphie," Aren sighed, and wiped his thin eyes. "I thought you were asleep."
"Yeah, I couldn't," she shrugged, "I needed a little time to relax. Just sit and clear my head, you know?"
Aren nodded. He walked, his attention still on her, to a table against the wall, and retrieved a towel, which he dried himself off with. He unlocked the metal plates from his arms, picked up a neatly-folded white shirt and slid it on. Selphie laughed at herself; she frowned inwardly at him for doing so.
"I don't know how you do that stuff," he chuckled. "That yoga, or meditation or whatever...it'd take me months just to sit still like that..."
She laughed, and they sat together against the wall.
Selphie sighed and shook her head. "Aren...I can't say it enough...I'm so sorry." She placed her folded hands between her crossed legs. "You were right. He just came straight out, and told me the whole story, and...it was horrible. It just tore me up...I couldn't stand thinking about something like that...happening to anyone..."
She lifted her eyes. "...Especially you."
Aren's grey eyes smiled at her. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Selphie drew closer, and they sat in each other's gaze and smile.
"You know," said Aren, "I was incredibly wrong about you. You were amazing." He squeezed her close. "You saved me."
"Oh, I did not," she laughed shyly. "You'd have done just fine on your own...I just kinda panicked, I guess...I...well, I dunno..."
"You did, Selphie...you saved my life. I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
She smiled bashfully, and searched for a reply. But she came up with nothing, and once again fell into silent gaze upon Aren's grey eyes. A pair of eyes unique to the world. They had lost their color long ago, and in its place, they were filled with a thousand stories. Shadows of despair, pain, and longsuffering; but ultimately, of perserverance. And when she looked deep enough, and long enough, Selphie could even see a trace of hope.
Aren breathed a sigh, and gave an uncomfortable smile. "I'm sorry, for everything," he said gently, peering into her with the eyes she adored so much. "I can't tell you how sorry I am."
She wrapped her hands around his waist, and slid to him warmly, always watching his eyes. She felt the beating of Aren's heart; tense and quickly at first, but gradually slowing as she nestled against him. Under her embrace, he eased into a gentle relaxation. And with an unspoken prayer of thanks, Selphie slipped away with him.
"Maybe we're not as sorry...as we think we are," she whispered.
She touched her nose to his cheek, as he ran his hands gently through her auburn hair.
Around them, the training room fell dark. The swinging heavybags cast long shadows upon their embrace. Footsteps echoed in, as two Nebrian soldiers called in distant voices.
"...Hello? Are you down here, ma'am? Anybody home?"
"Nah, she's gone. Let's hit the rest of the lights and get outta here..."
The footsteps and voices faded away as quickly as they came, but the darkness enveloped Aren and Selphie in pitch black shadows. They never took notice. They lay together in tender embrace, and even in the darkness they gazed upon each others' eyes. It was there, in the darkness, that they shared their first kiss.
~
Sleepless, eyes open wide
Before heaven I stand again
If here's no winning this war tonight,
I was wondering...
If you could steady my spinning head
And trusting gets harder now
I wish you were here beside me
My failures, my fears and doubts
Have been haunting me...
I'm just not who I thought I'd be
Freefall
Weightless and terrified
On I go, crossing over
From living to so alive
And purified
I know weeping is cast for the night
But joy...
Joy comes in the morning
~
