…Holy God…my computer's fixed. Miracle of Miracles! Thank Goddess!…Maybe I've been playing Chrono Cross to long….nah.
If anyone's still with me here, You'll know that I've been inactive for awhile…Well my computer froze and I was to paranoid of people watching me type it up at the school.
So…yeah…
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Chapter 17 – Just…Don't think~~~
Serge and Glenn wandered aimlessly through the enormous flock of people crowding the large ballroom. All of them were dressed in there best attire, be it work suits or uniforms they had borrowed from the dragoons. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time dancing to the soul wavering music, talking freely to friends, family and even complete strangers even the odd and pointless games Riddel had set up were bringing happy laughter from the once so depressed people.
Yet all Serge and Glenn could do is wander for through the horde of people they had lost sight of Karsh and the others.
"Do you think they even notice where gone?"
"Gone? More like lost…I hate crowds."
Serge eyed his companion "You hate crowds? I never expected that."
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the most sociable person in the world." Glenn replied before nodding and waving to a group of people he knew from Termina who had just shouted his name.
"You seem sociable, everyone seems to know you-" The village boy paused as he ran straight into the back of an older man who laughed at him and ruffled his exposed Blue hair in his pleasant drunkenness. It obviously annoyed Serge who forced a bland chuckle before trying to smooth down his hair, which stuck in every direction possible. "-and you seem to know and get along with them."
Glenn grinned briefly at Serge's encounter with the man before setting his façade back to its previous neutral look. "I act sociable to be polite. I really don't like crowds or even most people."
Much to both there relief they broke out of the bunched together people into a small area near the snack table. Wait, snack isn't the word…Enormous Dinner Table…yes, much better.
"Are you saying you don't like me, your just being polite?"
Glenn looked at him "I didn't say that, I said I didn't like most people."
Serge analyzed the table before finding a cheese incrusted bread roll and took a hardy bite. "Well if you don't like people so much," He paused to swallow the chunk of bread then continued, "Why do you feel the need to protect them?"
"I…" The Dragoon adjusted the positioning of his cape over the Mythril shoulder padding while giving the ground a hesitant look "I may not like them, but, that doesn't mean I shouldn't protect them. Besides there are people worth protecting."
"Like Leena?"
"Where'd that come from?"
"It was just a question."
"Yes," Glenn agreed, quite aware that his face had become beat red. "But why Leena?"
Serge finished his bread roll "Well, why not Leena?"
"Eeerr…" The village boy smirked causing Glenn to go redder "What?!"
"I didn't say anything!"
"You were thinking it!"
Serge laughed "Thinking what! I think you've lost your mind Glenn!"
The Deva's shoulders suddenly slumped and he looked at thee ground, "Have I really…I don't know what to think anymore." The blue-haired boy stopped in mid laugh and looked at his friend. The party was lifting everyone's spirits, even his own. But for Glenn it seemed to have the exact opposite effect, sending him into a confused state of thoughtful depression. Truthfully this worried Serge, he had always thought of Glenn as one of the more optimistic of them all yet here he was, lost with no direction to head.
"Well, then. Just think about something you like."
"What?"
"Well something that makes you happy, not want to think about the bad." Serge watched as Glenn contemplated this then grinned before adding "Like Leena."
It's a funny feeling when you're upright then suddenly flat on your back, sliding across a floor. At first everything feels all right then this nauseating sense of vertigo over takes you making you feel as though you're flying backwards without ship or wings. It seems like forever yet the pain of your back connecting with the floor comes in less then a second, though you hardly notice until the sliding has stopped and the force that knocked you down in the first place has lifted itself from on you.
This was the very sequence of events Serge found himself experiencing as Glenn tackled him down onto the floor. The oddest thing though is that even though the fall brought him a large amount of pain Serge began laughing hysterically spitting out an, "I'm right aren't I!" occasionally through his laughter.
Glenn merely grumbled, not willing to admit to his friend that he was right after all.
Amazingly the little scuffle brought nearly no attention to the two except for four people who broke through the crowd into the now not so vast space by the refreshment table. The four happened to be Norris, Kidd, Leena and Phoenix.
"Oi mate, Sleepin' at a party? Lazy Arse."
Serge jumped to his feet as Glenn spun around "Hel-whoa!" They both exclaimed in unison as they saw the girls, dressed in their, well, dresses, both with their hair left long. Glenn smiled widely at Leena who looked elegant in the simple shimmering blue dress she wore. The slits on either side, reaching up to her lower thigh gave the entire innocent country gal visage a striking twist, different but far from un-likeable. Kidd on the other hand nearly caused Serge to drop his jaw. He had never expected to see her in anything but he traveling outfit, and the vivacious look of the red dress on her gave him an appeasing shock.
[A/N- I don't like authors notes in the middle of stories so this should be the only one you see. I'm sorry I cannot describe woman's clothing so if you don't like the way I described this give me suggestions or add your own sense of what they should look like. Thank you.]
"Leena you look…"
"Kidd, whoa…"
Leena blushed shyly and looked at the ground while Kidd fought down the red in her cheeks "Quit yer gawkin' mates, It ain't polite to stare ya know!"
The 4 slowly began to converse allowing Norris to watch from the side, smiling slightly. After a moment he felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down to find Phoenix staring up at him with wide expectant eyes.
"Unca Nowwis?"
Norris chuckled slightly at the 'unca'. "Yes?" He had only met the small child less then a day ago and already he enjoyed her company. It was refreshing compared to the tunnel vision of his Porre Military peers.
"Do I wook as pwitty as Aunty Leena and Aunty Kidd?"
The Blackwind commander laughed and picked up the small child, "Of course you do." He looked around slowly before looking back at Phoenix "Don't tell them this, but I think you look even prettier." The young girl laughed happily and hugged him before awkwardly crawling up to sit on his shoulders, enjoying the sensation of feeling higher than everyone else.
"Wook at me aunty Leena, I'm tawwer den yew!"
This caused Leena to turn around and smile up at Phoenix who was bobbing up and down on Norris' shoulders chanting 'I'm tawwer den yew!' to everyone who would listen causing them all to laugh.
"She seems happy."
"I know," Leena replied before turning around to face Glenn. "I'm so happy to see her like this."
Meanwhile Serge was discussing something with Kidd in hushed whispers. After several moments she gave him a look and he merely nodded confidently. "Fine Mate but yer takin' tha fall fer this one." After saying her piece she walked over to Norris. "Hey Norris, Me an' Serge are gonna go play some of those Games, wanna bring Phoenix an' come, Mate?"
"Games? Yay! Lets go Unca Nowwis!"
"Very Well then." The Captain agreed happily, "Lead the way Kidd."
Glenn and Leena, who had engaged themselves in conversation, didn't notice Kidd and Norris leaving until Serge turned to follow. "Where are you guys going?"
"No where really." Serge replied as he patted Glenn hard on the back, sending the Deva forward a bit "You two have fun. Dance or something." Before a reply could be given, the village boy sped off after the others.
Having regained his balance from his encounter with Serge's 'friendly' pat, Glenn stood upright, knowing exactly what evil plot Serge had set him up for. Strangely he resented and thanked the young man for it, though on the outside he was simply trying to hold down the red in his cheeks. Looking over at Leena, he saw she looked meekly befuddled and he was silently thankful for that as well.
They stood there, neither really knowing what to say to the other through the methodic roar of people's conversations and laughter. Through it all somewhere in the distant background a high-pitched, almost whiny male voice called out "We Will now play one of our favourites. Time Scar."
Leena looked over her shoulder in the direction of the voice. "Hey, I like this song."
"Well then, would you like to Dance?" Glenn said it before even thinking first. By the time he realize what he had actual blurted out, he was standing on the dance floor with his hands on Leena's hips and the gentle melody of pipes, flutes and strings floating about the air.
Quietly rethinking his action, a sudden nervousness engulfed him and though this nervousness he said "I don't think I can do this."
"Well then don't think."
"Don't think?"
She nodded then smiled at him "Just let your feet take you away."
Looking down at her the Dragoon Soldier thought upon this. Even so, his thoughts slowly dwindled away and were lost completely as the drums sounded, the strings picked up pace and the music switched beats.
* ~ * ~ *
Karsh yawned widely while flopped ungracefully into a chair placed horribly beside the stage. The music was loud in his ears and he was lazy after filling himself completely with the delectable food served by the Manor chefs. Aside from that everyone was in the mod for conversation, except him and as Murphy's Law predicted everyone was trying to talk to him.
In sort, Karsh was in a horrid mood and longed to be outside with Zoah and Marcy yet was forced to stay in this dreaded party out of respect for Riddel, Viper and Dario.
Rubbing his eyes, he groaned then suddenly heard the dramatic change in music and looked up before grumbling "Whoa they actually know how to play something besides prissy and sob-me music. I'm impressed." Lazily turning his head, the Deva went to watch the humorous attempts at dancing like he'd see all night. What he saw shocked him enough to make him fall back, taking the chair with him. The floor was devoid of all but two people, who were amazingly not dancing like ducks with their flappers on fire. Then again, the fact that those two people were Glenn and Leena surprised him a tad more than the dancing abilities.
Scrambling back to his feet he watched them for a moment as the stepped, slid parried and jumped across the floor with methodic ease, following the music as though they had danced to it their entire lives. Suddenly, on the abrupt beginning of violin Glenn spun Leena out from him and on a decline of note swung her back in and they continued to dance about. Breaking into a laugh, Karsh dashed the few feet to Dario, Riddel and Viper and immediately redirected his attention.
"Dario! Riddel! Viper! You've gotta see this!" His rants successfully got them to divert their attention. What they saw brought a laugh and a smile to their faces.
"I'll be damned!"
* ~ * ~ *
"Woo Hoo! Look at 'em go, Mate!" Kidd exclaimed as she stood with Serge, Norris and Phoenix watching from a lone balcony standing over the stage. They were all firmly gripping the rail, looking down at Glenn and Leena dance, while grinning widely.
"I didn't know Glenn could Dance like that!" Serge exclaimed, satisfied his fun little game with the Dragoon soldier had brought about the intense dance.
"I didn't know Leena could dance like that!" Norris replied, enjoying this just as much as Serge.
Suddenly below them all but a faint string instrument, a tambourine and the powerful, sad song of the violins sounded just as Glenn tipped Leena backwards. He trailed his face from just above her chest to her chin, hovering only inches from actual skin contact while keeping in perfect time with the length of the violin song. He gained her full co-operation through this and when all the strings, drums and flutes started up once again they were up, on their feet and going like mad once again.
Now completely entranced with the dance, no-one said anything until the end of the song was signaled by the abrupt stop in the music and a final return spin, and even then the room lapsed into silence.
* ~ * ~ *
Glenn looked down at Leena, panting heavily. He was vaguely aware of the actually happenings of the last two minutes or so, it seemed more like some sort of Fantasy Dream the hero or heroine from children novels seemed to always have when thinking about their love. But feeling Leena's body pushed tightly against his due to the return of the final dance move, the warmth of her body and the sound of her breath all made it real some how.
It was all very odd to him. He felt tired, yet energetic, confined yet free and everything seemed to hold that dream like quality as he leaned his head down and closed his eyes before placing his lips on hers. Still in the feeling of a dream, he felt happy. He actually felt happy for the first time in years, and the feeling only swelled as he felt her gentle arms wrap lightly around his neck.
A loud roar of cheers and people clapping broke the silence, causing the two to break from one another and look around in startled realization that there were still people in the room and all of them were cheering somewhat madly.
A series of whistles broke over their heads and the two looked up to see Kidd, Serge, Norris and Phoenix whistling and hollering down at them. The only thing Glenn could make out was "I was right! I told you I was right!" which caused the young Deva to break into laughter which was abruptly stopped by something over head.
And it wasn't His hollering friends, either.
~~~
O.O took me long enough! I seriously don't know what came over me in this. I don't think it's really that bad myself, but again, that's me.
Well-fidle-de-de, Review fer me?
Heh, later!