Considering My Own Happiness
(AKA Selfish Felix! XD And crazy, hormone-high subconsciouses!)
--Also by Azusasan *Sigh*--
-|-
Okay.
So I lied.
Snowdrift will have a second chapter!
NO MORE! X_X Homework is eeeevil. I mean, I don't have a lot, but... it serves as a good excuse to avoid my stories! ^_^;; And piano theory homework is an evil biznatch too...
[Taylor: *Rolls eyes* Don't make me ask if I can borrow Menardi from Vyctori...]
Nooo! Not another evil, constantly PMS-ing woman here! 0_o!! I'll be good! I swear!
[Taylor: *Glares*]
Meep. ._.;;
I luvs my Picard/Felix yaoi fanfiction. ^_^ Once tntkablooie is (FINALLY) up and running, I'm gonna make a * *GS Yaoi Fanlisting* *! XD
[Taylor: *Sighs*]
Hey, I'm paying my half, AND I AM the second webmistress of the website, the other being Taylor here. ^_^ If you wanna help (I'll DECLARE when construction on it will start!) with HTML, the fanlisting layout (Some fanlisting layouts are UBER pretty... *_*), banners, and all that other junk, contact either moi (oEggplanto@aol.com) or Taylor (jtaylor1634@aol.com), or even mail out joint mailbox (tntkablooie@earthlink.net). Thanxx to all you supporters of yaoi! ::UBER GLOMPS::
[Felix: *Grumbling* Maybe they DON'T want a psychotic, yaoi-loving, GS- playing otaku to love them forever...]
Oh, good point. ::Thinks:: Then I'll dedicate something to you! ::Glomps reviewers:: ^o^ I wonder if there's a possibility of blackmailing Shadow in drawing something... Maybe. Felix with a bouquet of flowers, or maybe Alex- kun! ^^ Anyhow, enough of my ranting. GS YAOI FANLISTING! ...Once tntkablooie is up and running. Which might be a while, since we started the site in like... early summer, or so, and we've barely touched it. ^_^;; Snowdrift: Chapter two: Considering My Own Happiness! ENJOY!
Picard has a sarcastic subconscious now, too! ^_^;; And, a few mentions of weird pairings... Isaac/Feizhi, for one. 0 o Look! Picard-kun's not as eloquent as we first thought! XD
-|-
Snowdrift --
-- Considering My Own Happiness
-|-
True hearts that share one love, one life, will always know true joy. -- Jason Blake
[Hey! Listen to Do As Infinity's "Signal" sometime! ::Dances:: It's kewlies!
[Taylor: ...-_- *Drags Azu by the ear back to the computer*]
Oww!]
-|-
-- Dear Feizhi,
I'm sorry I haven't written for a long time -- I'm aware of how constantly worried you are about us since the Golden Age came. Really, you shouldn't be worried, we *are* the Adepts that saved the world, right? Well, I guess we might also be the same Adepts that could be the *end* of the world, but... let's not discuss that right now.
Isaac is still leading the lonely bachelor's life -- I've heard Kraden go on about you liking him, why not give it a chance? I mean, since my sister currently has her hands full with Mia, and Sheba's in Contigo right now, searching for her past... --
Felix's pencil stopped in midair.
With a groan, he dropped his head onto the desk, thudding it repeatedly against the varnished wood.
/What's wrong with me? I always have to bring up the relationship between Jenna and Mia.../ He sighed and propped his chin up in his hands, staring out the nearby window wistfully. Said two girls were sitting out on the front lawn, looking over some clothing designs Ivan had brought back recently from his trip to Kalay.
Did he mention they were snuggling, too?
/I'm happy for them and all.../ He picked up the piece of paper he had been writing on, and crumpled it up into a ball, throwing it onto the precariously teetering pile of other discarded letters in the overflowing wastebasket in the corner. /...but they've been the talk of the town lately./
It was true; talk of the two was spreading like wildfire, and he was sure Lord McCoy in Bilibin had heard the tale as well.
Of course, the fat oaf would've probably been giddy at the aspect of those two in love.
/That unloyal husband.../
(A/N: Isaac and the negligee! XD I luff Riyn's story!)
Everybody else didn't seem to really mind, or masked their distaste well. He was sure Garet -- that jerk -- was enjoying the spectacle. (Garet now sported a black eye after Felix had caught him staring at them as though they were the most fascinating things in Weyard.) Isaac didn't mind, Ivan didn't mind (Felix got the eerie feeling the Wind adept liked Isaac in some fashion), and Picard. . .
/Not Picard.../
/You like him!/
/...When did YOU get back from your trip to the Apojii Islands?!/
/Oh, just recently. Got a tan!/
Felix massaged his eyes tiredly, giving up on trying to imagine that potentially-scary image.
/MAYBE I like him. Go away, I have a headache./
/I know how you could get riiiid of it!/
/How? It feels like I dropped a Clay Spire on myse -- Hey!/
/Aww, it almost worked.../
Felix blushed a hot red, and burrowed his face into his arms, trying desperately to tune out the teasing voice of his subconscious. He knew people could have split personalities, but this was just ridiculous.
/Hey! Are you calling me ridiculous?/
/It took you that long to figure that bit of information out?/
/Meanie! Go jump Picard!/
He sighed.
-|-
Picard had only recently came back to Vale from Lumeria -- well, who in their right mind would pass up a chance to go to Kraden's 80th birthday party?
/Well,/ He mused, /Maybe I didn't come just to make fun of Kraden like everyone else did.../
Oh yes, he had his reasons. One of the bigger ones was that little slip of a thing called Felix...
/I promised myself I wouldn't think of Felix.../ Picard groaned, running a hand through his surprisingly silky blue hair.
/You're thinking of him agaaaainn.../
/My subconscious is being evil! Why does Iris hate me so.../
/Yes, that's it! Feel bad, and then go crying to Felix for comfort! You know he'll give it to you, and probably much more!/
/...I should hope Felix doesn't have this problems as well./
/Aww... You're feeling pity for the cute thing!/ He could swear it snickered.
/Hey, if you're teasing me about liking him... does that mean you like him, too?/
/You know, Felix's subconscious is kinda sexy.../
/Ohhh, bad images.../
Thankfully, that Evil Subconscious of his flitted off into some other dimension (Or possibly it went off onto one of its little 'expeditions'), and left him to his own personal, private thoughts.
Or maybe it was just being quiet (For once) and scribbling all he thought down onto some yellow pad of paper and looking shifty while doing so.
/Where do I get these ideas?/ Picard wondered to himself, retying his hair.
(A/N: XD I should make the second genre of this humor....)
Since the last Felix-incident (The one involving snow), the poor Venus Adept had been as jittery as popping corn. ( ;;) Around him, at least. When he had inquired of Jenna of it, she had brushed it off, saying she 'knew nothing,' and if she did, she 'wouldn't tell for her own personal safety.'
Damn bond between those two siblings.
He had thought Felix had actually felt *something* for him -- but that hope had always been dwindling, and by now, there were only a few grains of it, at the bottom of the Jar of Hope. He still had hope for other things, of course -- the Golden Age's peace remaining sound and intact, for one, and Isaac and Feizhi to eventually 'click,' as Sheba put it.
/So hope for Felix is... gone?/
Stupid subconscious of his was back again...
/You finished screwing Felix's inner thoughts?/ Though the thoughts only rang in his head, it sounded harsher than he had first intended.
/No,/ it said, surprisingly morosely. /There was a 'Sorry, I'm out and experiencing NEW THINGS' sign on the door.../
Since when were there doors for subconsciouses? (Did I spell that right? o O)
/But... there's no more hope for Felix?/ It asked again.
/Never was any./
/Really.../ It seemed to shift around a little before continuing. /Why can't you transfer some of that hope for the Golden Age's harmonious peace to last for years to come into the 'I hope Felix is madly in love with me' part of the Jar of Hope?/
/It doesn't work that way,/ Picard replied crossly. /Otherwise, I would've done it a long time before./
There was such a long silence, Picard had thought the Evil Subconscious had flit out again, until it spoke up again, softly, completely uncharacteristically:
/But... there are still a few grains, right? A little bit is still better than nothing./
/But it's practically nothing. I don't know why I even have a threadbare hope in Felix anymore.../
/Hey, look./
/I can't see what you're seeing./
/You said there were a few grains?/
/Practically nothing./
/The sign on Felix's inner thought's door says, now: 'Trying to persuade Felix into admitting that he loves Picard.'/
-|-
"Hey, Mi..."
"What is it, Jenna?"
"Picard's going back to Lemuria tomorrow, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is... It seems like it's only been a few days, and it's been over two weeks."
"Fast how time flies, huh?" Jenna asked bemusedly.
"Mm..." Mia replied, gazing blankly at her hands in her lap. "It seems as though there's something... wrong.. with Picard."
"Yeah, I noticed, too." Jenna drew her arms around her knees. "Hey, you aren't... aren't mad, are you?"
"Mad? Of course not! That's probably the only time I'm glad that you're such a scheming person."
"Oh, really? Remember Isaac's last birthday party -- "
"That's not something I want to dwell on, Jenna..." Mia sighed.
"That was FUN, though! That look on his face..." Jenna argued. "But back on subject... I think my brother's really in love with him."
"Those words were never exchanged, though, were they?" The healer fiddled with the hem of a sleeve, looking at her companion with a thoughtful expression.
"The special words? No. But deep down..."
"...he wants to." Mia cast her blue eyes down at the ground. Jenna took her hand and interwove their fingers, standing and pulling her up with her.
"Come on, let's go inside. Felix is going to get worried about me soon."
"At your age?"
"It's a habit of his, you know, since the whole Golden Sun thing."
Mia smiled faintly as Jenna tugged her along to the porch. Maybe something could work out -- their bunch was known for being rather spontaneous.
Especially Jenna, of course, and now that she thought about it --
"You aren't planning anything again, are you?"
"Huh? Oh, 'course not..." Jenna said placidly, a carefree smile on her face. Mia frowned.
"Jenna..."
"He's MY brother!" Jenna rolled her eyes. "I can push him around however *I* want!"
Mia could now declare to the world -- she was worried.
-|-
THE NEXT DAY --
-|-
"Hey, Felix..."
Jenna poked her head into Felix's room, finding it most odd that he didn't reply at all. He was looking out the window and balancing a pencil on the edge of his nose.
He was also leaning back in his chair.
/Booyah!/ Jenna's mind shrieked happily.
She tiptoed up behind him, studying the angle of the chair. Perfect.
"FELIX!"
Jenna paused.
Wait a second!
No Felix hitting floor!
Bad! As in -- not good -- bad!
She moved in front of him, blocking sight of the window. No movement -- his eyes hadn't even blinked. Jenna did a little dance, and still no signs of intelligence from her brother. With a sigh, she reached over and snatched the pencil from Felix's nose.
He abruptly fell over, flailing, the chair clattering to the floor noisily.
"Finally!" Jenna sighed exasperatedly. "Were you getting another premonition from the Wise One, or something?"
Felix still didn't answer -- he had hit his head pretty hard when he dramatically met the floor.
"Owwww...."
Brothers were such idiots sometimes...
"Anyway," Jenna said casually, glancing at her nails, "I came up to tell you that Picard's leaving in about five minutes or so."
She turned and walked over to the window Felix had been staring out of, glancing around and enjoying the summer breeze.
"It'd be a wonder if he isn't out the gate already..."
Jenna looked over her shoulder and saw that there was nobody else in the room.
Oh, Mia was SO going to hate her for this.
(A/N: Jenna's such a conniving little fox! XD)
-|-
/Oh Iris, I hope he isn't gone yet -- I haven't told him anything, and if he leaves, I won't likely have contact with him for another good five months or so unless.../
/Shut your trap and just run!/ Felix's subconscious barked. For once, Felix listened, shut up, and ran like the dickens.
As he ran up one fairly steep hill, he could see a flash of blue -- Picard, hopefully. Fortunately for him, it was Picard, and as he managed the last few steps to the top, he silently thanked the gods for whatever lucky break they had given him as he collapsed on the grass.
Picard, in fact, was not leaving for at least another day. He obviously had no idea of this second setup of Jenna's, and thus, had no idea as of why a near-to-dead-Felix was sprawled out near his feet.
"Felix... What are you doing here?" He knelt, resisting the urge to stroke some of the brown hair out of his eyes.
"Je... Jenna told me... that you were... leaving... now...."
/...What?/
"I'm not leaving for possibly quite a while, Felix. ...Felix... are you alright?"
"Fine... fine... perfectly fine..." Deep down inside, however, he was figuring out various ways to maim that sister of his and leave the scene before Mia found out... He managed to pull himself up to his knees, still panting heavily. Gods, when WAS the last time he had run so hard?
/The time Sheba caught me reading her journal back in... Oh, where was it?/
/You still have no time to dwell on this! And that was in Mikasalla, just to remind you!/
/Oh!/
[Felix's subconscious: -__-;;;]
"Are you sure you're fine?"
"Fine." He snapped, ignoring the hand Picard held out to him, but nonetheless contradicting his words by holding his side.
/Hey hey hey! Don't be mean to him! Especially the new discovery that YOU LOVE HIM! was recently declared official!/
/It wasn't declared official!/
/YES IT WAS! Don't argue with your subconscious, boy! Why, back in my day -- /
/Are you admitting you're older than I once thought, then?/
/What are you getting at?!/
Picard stared at Felix sadly, then sighing and looking back over Vale. So maybe Felix's subconscious hadn't succeeded...
"I'm sorry." Felix murmured, rubbing the stitch in his side carefully. "Jenna just told me that you were leaving, and I'm just mad at her for lying to me like that..."
"Is that all you came here for?"
He was surprised at the question. What was THAT supposed to mean?
"Wha -- what?"
Picard didn't respond, bowing his head slightly as he stared at the rooftops of the small town where heroes had emerged from.
Felix felt a pang of guilt streak through him.
/Does he mean -- /
/It's as obvious as daylight that he cares for you IN MORE THAN ONE WAY, you idiot!/
/ -- Oh./
[Felix's subconscious: -_____-;;;;;]
"No, that's not all I came here for..." He paused to consider his next words. "I'm sorry... again. For leading you on like that since winter, and it was just for Jenna's benefit..." The Venus Adept smiled ruefully. "People think I make such a good elder brother, just because I would sacrifice anything for the health and happiness of my little sister. I've never really considered my... own happiness..."
"Felix... You care so much about Jenna and everyone else... Were... you ever aware others cared deeply about you, too?"
"I'm sure the obviousness in that has struck me, before, but... I've never truly basked in the glow of it." Felix continued to smile as he turned his gaze towards the ground. "Imagine, experiencing things like lighting the lighthouses and sailing around Weyard, and never bothering to think about the people who cared for me..."
He had to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Picard was silent despite Felix's seemingly cheerful laughter.
"It's nice to know people care a lot about me, despite my flaws and short- comings." He sighed softly. "And they all worry about me, and I worry about them, but I've never really worried over myself..."
/Why doesn't he say anything?/
"Picard, I've thought a lot about it... and..."
/I can't say it! It's stuck, and it doesn't want to come out!/
/You don't want me to force it out, do you?!/
/No!/
/Speak up, then! Idiot../
/I heard that!/
/Duh, I'm your subconscious!/
[Felix: -___-;;]
"...I love you." Felix murmured plainly, the flush on his cheeks from running deepening in color. "And if you hate me, it's okay, I know I shouldn't have done what I did, and -- "
Picard turned and pressed a finger to his lips. Felix blinked, taken aback momentarily.
The world seemed to have stopped moving. He held his breath as warm lips that felt like rich silk pressed against his, tentative. The scene back in the snow a few seasons ago ran through his head -- that perfect kiss, ruined only by the entrace of his sister and her crush...
"Felix!"
/....Damn her!/
/Ditto./
"Felix, there you are! ...Oh, was I interrupting a *moment*?"
"Jenna..." Felix growled. "Of all the times you could've -- "
"Um, I think Mia's calling me in for lunch! I, um, I'll see you, Felix!" Jenna skittered away quickly, occasionally looking back at them.
"That was... interesting." Picard remarked dryly, drawing his arms around the seething Venus Adept.
"Shut up!" Felix shrieked. "Jenna ruins everything with her evil schemes, and I know she's planning world domination!"
"Felix... Are you sure you aren't overreacting?"
"Does it look like I'm overreacting?!"
Picard sighed.
"You must understand, Felix, that this won't be the most... balanced... relationship around..."
"Of course not! Weyard has never been the same since we lit the lighthouse, everything's been out of order since, and pure chaos is running rampant here in Vale, too! What with my sister -- who's planning world domination, and her lover, who... who... I don't know, but she looks suspicious too! And..."
/Iris, why did I have to fall in love with *him*?/ Picard wondered to himself, taking Felix's hand and dragging him back to his home.
"...And you remember that cow, right? The one we gave the red scarf to? Why in the seven hells would a cow want a scarf? To make better milk? That's not a sound excuse! And where are you taking me, anyhow?" Felix paused in his ranting to take a deep breath.
"Back to your home," Picard answered evenly. When Felix opened his mouth to protest, he kissed him lightly on the lips once more. "There are more entertaining things to do than to listen to hear you talk about your evil sister and cows with red scarves."
Felix worked his mouth a few times, then promptly shut up.
"...Home?"
"Trust me, you'll be entertained."
Felix blushed.
/Iris, what did I get into.../
/Hey, he's got the right idea! ^O^/
/Shut up, you. - -;;/
-|-
E n d e
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You know, now that I think about it, this could wind up an epic series of short stories of... um... mishaps Felix and Picard get into! Or something. I dunno. School's a big biznatch, like it is for everyone else... I need to update both TLE and The Elements, or I know Taylor and Vyctori will come after me with various sharp items. I had to give you a set of throwing knives... -__-
[Taylor: They're cool! Look! *Throws knife at Saddam Hussein's face tacked onto a wall*]
[Iz: *Claps* Right between the eyes! ^o^]
[Felix: -__-;;;; Stop putting me through this!]
[Taylor: *Glomps* Let him stay at my place!]
In that tiny ten-by-ten or so room of yours? Don't think so...
[Taylor: It's not ten-by-ten! It's more like... Uh... Fifteen-by-ten!]
[Felix: ....]
[Iz: o 0;;]
ANYhow.... I'm getting funny ideas about this story. ^_^ I think it'd be funny if Felix and Jenna (Yes! The evil, planning world -- er, Weyard-- domination!) discussed the cow with the red scarf thing. ^_^;
[Iz: That's an inside joke from SE! ^o^]
Yep. ^_^;;; Tell me what you peeps think, it'd be most interesting... Yes... Especially once Felix remembered the dog drinking milk. ~_~;;
Should I continue this? I'd find it most interesting... I'm sure the rest of you would, too. XD
-REViEW, AS AlWAYS-
(AKA Selfish Felix! XD And crazy, hormone-high subconsciouses!)
--Also by Azusasan *Sigh*--
-|-
Okay.
So I lied.
Snowdrift will have a second chapter!
NO MORE! X_X Homework is eeeevil. I mean, I don't have a lot, but... it serves as a good excuse to avoid my stories! ^_^;; And piano theory homework is an evil biznatch too...
[Taylor: *Rolls eyes* Don't make me ask if I can borrow Menardi from Vyctori...]
Nooo! Not another evil, constantly PMS-ing woman here! 0_o!! I'll be good! I swear!
[Taylor: *Glares*]
Meep. ._.;;
I luvs my Picard/Felix yaoi fanfiction. ^_^ Once tntkablooie is (FINALLY) up and running, I'm gonna make a * *GS Yaoi Fanlisting* *! XD
[Taylor: *Sighs*]
Hey, I'm paying my half, AND I AM the second webmistress of the website, the other being Taylor here. ^_^ If you wanna help (I'll DECLARE when construction on it will start!) with HTML, the fanlisting layout (Some fanlisting layouts are UBER pretty... *_*), banners, and all that other junk, contact either moi (oEggplanto@aol.com) or Taylor (jtaylor1634@aol.com), or even mail out joint mailbox (tntkablooie@earthlink.net). Thanxx to all you supporters of yaoi! ::UBER GLOMPS::
[Felix: *Grumbling* Maybe they DON'T want a psychotic, yaoi-loving, GS- playing otaku to love them forever...]
Oh, good point. ::Thinks:: Then I'll dedicate something to you! ::Glomps reviewers:: ^o^ I wonder if there's a possibility of blackmailing Shadow in drawing something... Maybe. Felix with a bouquet of flowers, or maybe Alex- kun! ^^ Anyhow, enough of my ranting. GS YAOI FANLISTING! ...Once tntkablooie is up and running. Which might be a while, since we started the site in like... early summer, or so, and we've barely touched it. ^_^;; Snowdrift: Chapter two: Considering My Own Happiness! ENJOY!
Picard has a sarcastic subconscious now, too! ^_^;; And, a few mentions of weird pairings... Isaac/Feizhi, for one. 0 o Look! Picard-kun's not as eloquent as we first thought! XD
-|-
Snowdrift --
-- Considering My Own Happiness
-|-
True hearts that share one love, one life, will always know true joy. -- Jason Blake
[Hey! Listen to Do As Infinity's "Signal" sometime! ::Dances:: It's kewlies!
[Taylor: ...-_- *Drags Azu by the ear back to the computer*]
Oww!]
-|-
-- Dear Feizhi,
I'm sorry I haven't written for a long time -- I'm aware of how constantly worried you are about us since the Golden Age came. Really, you shouldn't be worried, we *are* the Adepts that saved the world, right? Well, I guess we might also be the same Adepts that could be the *end* of the world, but... let's not discuss that right now.
Isaac is still leading the lonely bachelor's life -- I've heard Kraden go on about you liking him, why not give it a chance? I mean, since my sister currently has her hands full with Mia, and Sheba's in Contigo right now, searching for her past... --
Felix's pencil stopped in midair.
With a groan, he dropped his head onto the desk, thudding it repeatedly against the varnished wood.
/What's wrong with me? I always have to bring up the relationship between Jenna and Mia.../ He sighed and propped his chin up in his hands, staring out the nearby window wistfully. Said two girls were sitting out on the front lawn, looking over some clothing designs Ivan had brought back recently from his trip to Kalay.
Did he mention they were snuggling, too?
/I'm happy for them and all.../ He picked up the piece of paper he had been writing on, and crumpled it up into a ball, throwing it onto the precariously teetering pile of other discarded letters in the overflowing wastebasket in the corner. /...but they've been the talk of the town lately./
It was true; talk of the two was spreading like wildfire, and he was sure Lord McCoy in Bilibin had heard the tale as well.
Of course, the fat oaf would've probably been giddy at the aspect of those two in love.
/That unloyal husband.../
(A/N: Isaac and the negligee! XD I luff Riyn's story!)
Everybody else didn't seem to really mind, or masked their distaste well. He was sure Garet -- that jerk -- was enjoying the spectacle. (Garet now sported a black eye after Felix had caught him staring at them as though they were the most fascinating things in Weyard.) Isaac didn't mind, Ivan didn't mind (Felix got the eerie feeling the Wind adept liked Isaac in some fashion), and Picard. . .
/Not Picard.../
/You like him!/
/...When did YOU get back from your trip to the Apojii Islands?!/
/Oh, just recently. Got a tan!/
Felix massaged his eyes tiredly, giving up on trying to imagine that potentially-scary image.
/MAYBE I like him. Go away, I have a headache./
/I know how you could get riiiid of it!/
/How? It feels like I dropped a Clay Spire on myse -- Hey!/
/Aww, it almost worked.../
Felix blushed a hot red, and burrowed his face into his arms, trying desperately to tune out the teasing voice of his subconscious. He knew people could have split personalities, but this was just ridiculous.
/Hey! Are you calling me ridiculous?/
/It took you that long to figure that bit of information out?/
/Meanie! Go jump Picard!/
He sighed.
-|-
Picard had only recently came back to Vale from Lumeria -- well, who in their right mind would pass up a chance to go to Kraden's 80th birthday party?
/Well,/ He mused, /Maybe I didn't come just to make fun of Kraden like everyone else did.../
Oh yes, he had his reasons. One of the bigger ones was that little slip of a thing called Felix...
/I promised myself I wouldn't think of Felix.../ Picard groaned, running a hand through his surprisingly silky blue hair.
/You're thinking of him agaaaainn.../
/My subconscious is being evil! Why does Iris hate me so.../
/Yes, that's it! Feel bad, and then go crying to Felix for comfort! You know he'll give it to you, and probably much more!/
/...I should hope Felix doesn't have this problems as well./
/Aww... You're feeling pity for the cute thing!/ He could swear it snickered.
/Hey, if you're teasing me about liking him... does that mean you like him, too?/
/You know, Felix's subconscious is kinda sexy.../
/Ohhh, bad images.../
Thankfully, that Evil Subconscious of his flitted off into some other dimension (Or possibly it went off onto one of its little 'expeditions'), and left him to his own personal, private thoughts.
Or maybe it was just being quiet (For once) and scribbling all he thought down onto some yellow pad of paper and looking shifty while doing so.
/Where do I get these ideas?/ Picard wondered to himself, retying his hair.
(A/N: XD I should make the second genre of this humor....)
Since the last Felix-incident (The one involving snow), the poor Venus Adept had been as jittery as popping corn. ( ;;) Around him, at least. When he had inquired of Jenna of it, she had brushed it off, saying she 'knew nothing,' and if she did, she 'wouldn't tell for her own personal safety.'
Damn bond between those two siblings.
He had thought Felix had actually felt *something* for him -- but that hope had always been dwindling, and by now, there were only a few grains of it, at the bottom of the Jar of Hope. He still had hope for other things, of course -- the Golden Age's peace remaining sound and intact, for one, and Isaac and Feizhi to eventually 'click,' as Sheba put it.
/So hope for Felix is... gone?/
Stupid subconscious of his was back again...
/You finished screwing Felix's inner thoughts?/ Though the thoughts only rang in his head, it sounded harsher than he had first intended.
/No,/ it said, surprisingly morosely. /There was a 'Sorry, I'm out and experiencing NEW THINGS' sign on the door.../
Since when were there doors for subconsciouses? (Did I spell that right? o O)
/But... there's no more hope for Felix?/ It asked again.
/Never was any./
/Really.../ It seemed to shift around a little before continuing. /Why can't you transfer some of that hope for the Golden Age's harmonious peace to last for years to come into the 'I hope Felix is madly in love with me' part of the Jar of Hope?/
/It doesn't work that way,/ Picard replied crossly. /Otherwise, I would've done it a long time before./
There was such a long silence, Picard had thought the Evil Subconscious had flit out again, until it spoke up again, softly, completely uncharacteristically:
/But... there are still a few grains, right? A little bit is still better than nothing./
/But it's practically nothing. I don't know why I even have a threadbare hope in Felix anymore.../
/Hey, look./
/I can't see what you're seeing./
/You said there were a few grains?/
/Practically nothing./
/The sign on Felix's inner thought's door says, now: 'Trying to persuade Felix into admitting that he loves Picard.'/
-|-
"Hey, Mi..."
"What is it, Jenna?"
"Picard's going back to Lemuria tomorrow, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is... It seems like it's only been a few days, and it's been over two weeks."
"Fast how time flies, huh?" Jenna asked bemusedly.
"Mm..." Mia replied, gazing blankly at her hands in her lap. "It seems as though there's something... wrong.. with Picard."
"Yeah, I noticed, too." Jenna drew her arms around her knees. "Hey, you aren't... aren't mad, are you?"
"Mad? Of course not! That's probably the only time I'm glad that you're such a scheming person."
"Oh, really? Remember Isaac's last birthday party -- "
"That's not something I want to dwell on, Jenna..." Mia sighed.
"That was FUN, though! That look on his face..." Jenna argued. "But back on subject... I think my brother's really in love with him."
"Those words were never exchanged, though, were they?" The healer fiddled with the hem of a sleeve, looking at her companion with a thoughtful expression.
"The special words? No. But deep down..."
"...he wants to." Mia cast her blue eyes down at the ground. Jenna took her hand and interwove their fingers, standing and pulling her up with her.
"Come on, let's go inside. Felix is going to get worried about me soon."
"At your age?"
"It's a habit of his, you know, since the whole Golden Sun thing."
Mia smiled faintly as Jenna tugged her along to the porch. Maybe something could work out -- their bunch was known for being rather spontaneous.
Especially Jenna, of course, and now that she thought about it --
"You aren't planning anything again, are you?"
"Huh? Oh, 'course not..." Jenna said placidly, a carefree smile on her face. Mia frowned.
"Jenna..."
"He's MY brother!" Jenna rolled her eyes. "I can push him around however *I* want!"
Mia could now declare to the world -- she was worried.
-|-
THE NEXT DAY --
-|-
"Hey, Felix..."
Jenna poked her head into Felix's room, finding it most odd that he didn't reply at all. He was looking out the window and balancing a pencil on the edge of his nose.
He was also leaning back in his chair.
/Booyah!/ Jenna's mind shrieked happily.
She tiptoed up behind him, studying the angle of the chair. Perfect.
"FELIX!"
Jenna paused.
Wait a second!
No Felix hitting floor!
Bad! As in -- not good -- bad!
She moved in front of him, blocking sight of the window. No movement -- his eyes hadn't even blinked. Jenna did a little dance, and still no signs of intelligence from her brother. With a sigh, she reached over and snatched the pencil from Felix's nose.
He abruptly fell over, flailing, the chair clattering to the floor noisily.
"Finally!" Jenna sighed exasperatedly. "Were you getting another premonition from the Wise One, or something?"
Felix still didn't answer -- he had hit his head pretty hard when he dramatically met the floor.
"Owwww...."
Brothers were such idiots sometimes...
"Anyway," Jenna said casually, glancing at her nails, "I came up to tell you that Picard's leaving in about five minutes or so."
She turned and walked over to the window Felix had been staring out of, glancing around and enjoying the summer breeze.
"It'd be a wonder if he isn't out the gate already..."
Jenna looked over her shoulder and saw that there was nobody else in the room.
Oh, Mia was SO going to hate her for this.
(A/N: Jenna's such a conniving little fox! XD)
-|-
/Oh Iris, I hope he isn't gone yet -- I haven't told him anything, and if he leaves, I won't likely have contact with him for another good five months or so unless.../
/Shut your trap and just run!/ Felix's subconscious barked. For once, Felix listened, shut up, and ran like the dickens.
As he ran up one fairly steep hill, he could see a flash of blue -- Picard, hopefully. Fortunately for him, it was Picard, and as he managed the last few steps to the top, he silently thanked the gods for whatever lucky break they had given him as he collapsed on the grass.
Picard, in fact, was not leaving for at least another day. He obviously had no idea of this second setup of Jenna's, and thus, had no idea as of why a near-to-dead-Felix was sprawled out near his feet.
"Felix... What are you doing here?" He knelt, resisting the urge to stroke some of the brown hair out of his eyes.
"Je... Jenna told me... that you were... leaving... now...."
/...What?/
"I'm not leaving for possibly quite a while, Felix. ...Felix... are you alright?"
"Fine... fine... perfectly fine..." Deep down inside, however, he was figuring out various ways to maim that sister of his and leave the scene before Mia found out... He managed to pull himself up to his knees, still panting heavily. Gods, when WAS the last time he had run so hard?
/The time Sheba caught me reading her journal back in... Oh, where was it?/
/You still have no time to dwell on this! And that was in Mikasalla, just to remind you!/
/Oh!/
[Felix's subconscious: -__-;;;]
"Are you sure you're fine?"
"Fine." He snapped, ignoring the hand Picard held out to him, but nonetheless contradicting his words by holding his side.
/Hey hey hey! Don't be mean to him! Especially the new discovery that YOU LOVE HIM! was recently declared official!/
/It wasn't declared official!/
/YES IT WAS! Don't argue with your subconscious, boy! Why, back in my day -- /
/Are you admitting you're older than I once thought, then?/
/What are you getting at?!/
Picard stared at Felix sadly, then sighing and looking back over Vale. So maybe Felix's subconscious hadn't succeeded...
"I'm sorry." Felix murmured, rubbing the stitch in his side carefully. "Jenna just told me that you were leaving, and I'm just mad at her for lying to me like that..."
"Is that all you came here for?"
He was surprised at the question. What was THAT supposed to mean?
"Wha -- what?"
Picard didn't respond, bowing his head slightly as he stared at the rooftops of the small town where heroes had emerged from.
Felix felt a pang of guilt streak through him.
/Does he mean -- /
/It's as obvious as daylight that he cares for you IN MORE THAN ONE WAY, you idiot!/
/ -- Oh./
[Felix's subconscious: -_____-;;;;;]
"No, that's not all I came here for..." He paused to consider his next words. "I'm sorry... again. For leading you on like that since winter, and it was just for Jenna's benefit..." The Venus Adept smiled ruefully. "People think I make such a good elder brother, just because I would sacrifice anything for the health and happiness of my little sister. I've never really considered my... own happiness..."
"Felix... You care so much about Jenna and everyone else... Were... you ever aware others cared deeply about you, too?"
"I'm sure the obviousness in that has struck me, before, but... I've never truly basked in the glow of it." Felix continued to smile as he turned his gaze towards the ground. "Imagine, experiencing things like lighting the lighthouses and sailing around Weyard, and never bothering to think about the people who cared for me..."
He had to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Picard was silent despite Felix's seemingly cheerful laughter.
"It's nice to know people care a lot about me, despite my flaws and short- comings." He sighed softly. "And they all worry about me, and I worry about them, but I've never really worried over myself..."
/Why doesn't he say anything?/
"Picard, I've thought a lot about it... and..."
/I can't say it! It's stuck, and it doesn't want to come out!/
/You don't want me to force it out, do you?!/
/No!/
/Speak up, then! Idiot../
/I heard that!/
/Duh, I'm your subconscious!/
[Felix: -___-;;]
"...I love you." Felix murmured plainly, the flush on his cheeks from running deepening in color. "And if you hate me, it's okay, I know I shouldn't have done what I did, and -- "
Picard turned and pressed a finger to his lips. Felix blinked, taken aback momentarily.
The world seemed to have stopped moving. He held his breath as warm lips that felt like rich silk pressed against his, tentative. The scene back in the snow a few seasons ago ran through his head -- that perfect kiss, ruined only by the entrace of his sister and her crush...
"Felix!"
/....Damn her!/
/Ditto./
"Felix, there you are! ...Oh, was I interrupting a *moment*?"
"Jenna..." Felix growled. "Of all the times you could've -- "
"Um, I think Mia's calling me in for lunch! I, um, I'll see you, Felix!" Jenna skittered away quickly, occasionally looking back at them.
"That was... interesting." Picard remarked dryly, drawing his arms around the seething Venus Adept.
"Shut up!" Felix shrieked. "Jenna ruins everything with her evil schemes, and I know she's planning world domination!"
"Felix... Are you sure you aren't overreacting?"
"Does it look like I'm overreacting?!"
Picard sighed.
"You must understand, Felix, that this won't be the most... balanced... relationship around..."
"Of course not! Weyard has never been the same since we lit the lighthouse, everything's been out of order since, and pure chaos is running rampant here in Vale, too! What with my sister -- who's planning world domination, and her lover, who... who... I don't know, but she looks suspicious too! And..."
/Iris, why did I have to fall in love with *him*?/ Picard wondered to himself, taking Felix's hand and dragging him back to his home.
"...And you remember that cow, right? The one we gave the red scarf to? Why in the seven hells would a cow want a scarf? To make better milk? That's not a sound excuse! And where are you taking me, anyhow?" Felix paused in his ranting to take a deep breath.
"Back to your home," Picard answered evenly. When Felix opened his mouth to protest, he kissed him lightly on the lips once more. "There are more entertaining things to do than to listen to hear you talk about your evil sister and cows with red scarves."
Felix worked his mouth a few times, then promptly shut up.
"...Home?"
"Trust me, you'll be entertained."
Felix blushed.
/Iris, what did I get into.../
/Hey, he's got the right idea! ^O^/
/Shut up, you. - -;;/
-|-
E n d e
-|-
You know, now that I think about it, this could wind up an epic series of short stories of... um... mishaps Felix and Picard get into! Or something. I dunno. School's a big biznatch, like it is for everyone else... I need to update both TLE and The Elements, or I know Taylor and Vyctori will come after me with various sharp items. I had to give you a set of throwing knives... -__-
[Taylor: They're cool! Look! *Throws knife at Saddam Hussein's face tacked onto a wall*]
[Iz: *Claps* Right between the eyes! ^o^]
[Felix: -__-;;;; Stop putting me through this!]
[Taylor: *Glomps* Let him stay at my place!]
In that tiny ten-by-ten or so room of yours? Don't think so...
[Taylor: It's not ten-by-ten! It's more like... Uh... Fifteen-by-ten!]
[Felix: ....]
[Iz: o 0;;]
ANYhow.... I'm getting funny ideas about this story. ^_^ I think it'd be funny if Felix and Jenna (Yes! The evil, planning world -- er, Weyard-- domination!) discussed the cow with the red scarf thing. ^_^;
[Iz: That's an inside joke from SE! ^o^]
Yep. ^_^;;; Tell me what you peeps think, it'd be most interesting... Yes... Especially once Felix remembered the dog drinking milk. ~_~;;
Should I continue this? I'd find it most interesting... I'm sure the rest of you would, too. XD
-REViEW, AS AlWAYS-