Silent Tears
A/N: Konnichiwa, minna! -_-;; Er..sorry. Been watching my old subtitled Sailormoon movies back from 4th grade.
That's what boredom drives you to. Um, anyways.. to those of you living in US of A, Happy 4th of July!
I'm leaving for the East Coast (back to my roots! WOOT!) in 2 days. Gah. Family vacations.. I mean, they wouldn't let me take my best bud along! Ah well. Back to the point. So, there won't be another chapter up for Silent Tears for about 2 weeks. (While otherwise I've been regularly updating once a week) This is due to the trip AND also towards the fact that I'm not throwing out these chapters one after the other anymore.. :( It's getting harder to write the plotline.
I know where I'm taking this, I just don't know *how* to get there.
Thanks for all the support!! LOCKE + TERRA 4EVER!! WOOOOT!!
Disclaimers: I just realized I haven't been putting these in. *stares around wildly* You can't sue me now!! It's here! Look! I don't own anything! AAAAAH! Run awaaaaaaaay!
And now, finally, the reviewer response section..
furysetzer - Dawson's Creek?? Well, not quite. I mean, you don't see everyone shagging eachother this way and that, do you? Wait, this gives me a good idea..perhaps Edgar could play as 'Jack'..O_O WEE! What fun! Terra and locke would be joey and dawson, of course..no, wait!! they don't end up together at the end! cuz joey goes to pacey...hmm..this might be a little tricky.
Lady Deathstryke - @_@ So many new reviewers! (Well..actually, not really, but its alot to me. XD) Killing off Terra isn't so bad. I mean, as long as she got to kiss Locke before she died...right?? RIGHT?!! Its the opposite in this story. I make Kefka go from normal to insane. YAY!
Andromeda Highwind - *pats back* There, there. Here's a tissue. ..But Terra can NEVER suffer enough! BUAHAHAHAH - *hack* *cough* *wheeze*
Kt (donaldduckfan4@aol.com) - Isn't Zidane that dude with the monkey tail? o_O HE'S the ladies' man?? A half-monkey gets all the honeys? XD Lol, sorry, couldn't resist that lil' ditty of a rhyme. Wait, that didn't EXACTLY rhyme..
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CHAPTER 7
"Ter, wake up."
Ruby eyes slowly fluttered open. Locke's breath got caught in his throat for a moment - he had never noticed how - well, beautiful wasn't the exact word for it. They were better described as -
~strange.~ Locke thought. ~But in a good way.~
The strangely red-eyed half esper stretched out on the couch and stared sleepily at him.
"How come you look so darn energetic?" She said, slurring her words like a drunk.
"You're the one who was walking all last night." Locke laughed and flexed his muscles in a cheesy way.
"Me? My muscles don't know what 'tired' means! Fire runs in my blood - "
"Stop talking so louuuuud!" Terra whined and tried to move her head back down on the couch, desperate for some more sleep. But she had moved too fast, and the head bashed against hard wood, only covered by a surface of thick fabric.
Terra emitted a painful shriek and clutched at her head, while Locke laughed at her.
"Stop it!" Terra moaned. Locke's laughter only made her pounding head feel worse.
"I could be bleeding for all you know."
"Let me see." Locke moved closer and shifted through Terra's messy bed-head green hair. Terra would've considered the irony of this from just last night, when she had been playing with Locke's hair while nodding off to sleep, but her rapidly swelling head was distracting her at the moment.
Locke was having an even harder time than Terra, being so close to her. He remembered when just two nights ago, Terra had near suffocated him with her seemingly frail arms around him, cutting off his air circulation. The familiar aroma in her hair entered his nose. He swallowed a lump in his throat and stepped back.
"Nope, no bumps or bleeding," Locke said cheerfully. "Just some lice running through your scalp, no biggie - "
"LOCKE!" The said person ducked as Terra swiftly swung a cushion at him, regaining for just a moment her Esper agility.
That being said, Terra was not the only person who walked out of the tower/guestroom with a pounding headache. It appeared that the cushions were of wood too, only covered by fabric. Edgar and the technology-advanced people of Figaro paid much attention to machinery and not all too much to furniture, so as it happened, they would not invent soft, feather-filled cushions or couches for another 11 years.
Edgar watched, with a strange but unreadable expression, as Locke and Terra entered the dining room bickering jokingly and laughing. They currently looked nothing like two crucial members of the group of heroes that saved the world, but more like two ordinary teenagers or just barely young adults, exchanging flirtatious banter.
~Flirtatious?~ Edgar tried to shake off that weird feeling he was experiencing in his gut.
~I'm reading into this too much.~ He thought. ~I've been over her for a long, long time.~ He tried to smile at the duo.
"You're back so soon, Locke." Edgar said stiffly. What was wrong with his voice?? He was having difficulty talking.
"So where's Celes?"
This produced a strange reaction, in Edgar's eyes. Locke flinched, as if Edgar had released a starving Gau on his leg, and for a very long moment there was something in Locke's eyes that were different - no, that's not right. The thing was, there was NOTHING in his eyes. But Terra squeezed his hand (and Edgar finally noticed, with a twinge of that feeling again, that their fingers were entwined together) and with a feeling of great difficulty, Locke pulled himself back to reality and his eyes returned to its youthful, mischevious spark.
"Good." Locke said cheekily. "We exchanged a word or two, discussed our failing relationship, that sort of thing." Locke swallowed, but continued to grin as always. "Haven't exactly discussed divorce yet, but since we're technically not off our honeymoon yet, we'll postpone those issues and try to enjoy ourselves for the remainder of our vacation."
Terra tried not to stare admiringly at Locke, and restrained from applauding him. She was very surprised at how well Locke was handling this, yet she knew she shouldn't be. Because this was how Locke dealt with things - he kept an optimistic outlook and oozed of sarcasm for all he was worth. And she could tell he was trying VERY HARD not to break out into tears and not drown the desert into an ocean. Suddenly, Terra felt very stupid and ashamed of herself and her almost nightly habit of wallowing in self-pity and tears. Locke was so much stronger than her. It almost mad her proud, like a mother when her son turned into a 'man', whatever that could be.
She sighed, and whispered a half-hearted "I love you" without even realizing it until a second later. With wide eyes and sudden tense shoulders, she snuck a glimpse at Locke, who didn't seem to have heard her fatal confession, or if he did, he ignored it entirely. Terra silently relaxed in relief and thanked the Goddesses. Apparently it was getting harder and harder to contain her long-kept secret every moment she was with Locke.
"Well, don't just stand there, have breakfast." Edgar motioned with his hands, and Locke sat down, while Terra walked towards the kitchen for yet another daily coffee to start her day.
"Was Terra with you? The head maid checked her room and said she wasn't there." Edgar said casually.
Locke nodded. "She found me."
"Ah." Edgar nodded, and made a note to himself to talk to Terra for more details on what happened.
"Its so quiet now." said Terra's voice, and the two men looked up to see Terra looking out by the window, holding her mug.
They did not reply, but were wondering how Terra could've entered so quietly, that it went by unnoticed by Locke's trained 'treasure hunter' senses. Terra didn't notice their unusual silence and continued speaking.
"I mean, I was sure that Sabin and Gau would stay longer, Edgar. I kind of miss them - they're the rowdiest group in the bunch. Are they back at the Veldt?"
Edgar cleared his throat. "No, actually. They're at Thamasa."
Locke looked surprised. "Why?"
The king of Figaro looked slightly abashed, and coughed embaressedly.
"They wish to keep it a secret from us right now."
"A secret?" Terra and Locke exchanged a look. "Edgar, you're not saying that..Sabin...and Gau.."
"Oh, goddess NO!!" Edgar hastily replied. "Its certainly not that!..but, well, they'll tell you when they're ready."
"It sure sounds like a heavy-duty secret if you ask me." Locke said, still silently communicating with Terra through their eyes. "But okay then."
"Yes, it sounds serious." Terra moved forward and grabbed Edgar's hand. "No one's sick or in trouble, are they?"
Edgar had to pause before answering, but only because he was once again surprised by Terra's catlike speed. She moved so gracefully and silently - and fast. Edgar tried to remember if she had always moved like this.
"Er - no." Terra obviously didn't trust that hesitation, and narrowed her glimmering garnet eyes.
"No, really! I assure you, they're both fine. Everyone. Relm, too." Edgar added, as a sort of hint to them. It seemed to get through to Locke, who seemed to hide a grin and leaned back in his chair, but all Terra was doing seemed to be thinking thoughtfully. He could not tell what she knew - or didn't know.
The rest of the morning slipped by quietly, as the three friends talked and laughed together in a very relaxed, lazy manner without the hustle and stress of a wedding. Edgar had scheduled to spend the whole day with Terra (and now Locke as well) and put aside any conferences and meetings for this. Those plans were quickly ruined when in the middle of a talkative, chatty lunch, the Chancellor burst in the room, looking flushed and ashamed.
"I - i'm sorry, King Edgar, but they won't leave - they refuse to budge! Please forgive me, Miss Terra and Mr. Locke, but this
is urgent. I am forced to directly ask you, your majesty, to come and remove the - er, problem - from the premises."
Edgar did not say anything but merely nodded and stood up.
"Please finish your meal. I'll be back shortly." Edgar said to Terra and Locke in a clipped, short voice. Also dubbed as his 'all-about-business kingly tone.'
"Whats going on?" Terra asked, as the Chancellor wringed his hands and was just about to follow Edgar out of the room. Distracted, the Chancellor looked around a bit before settling his nervous eyes on Terra.
"Oh, er - Miss Terra, it really isn't a matter that should bother you, but - erm - "
Under Terra's steady red eyes, the Chancellor gulped.
"The cult; The Kefkanians. We thought we'd already sent a troop of soldiers to their most recent hideout and burned it down, but it seems they had escaped, and grown even bigger. There's a mob outside the castle, with torches and other unpleasant weapons, and they don't look like a civilized bunch."
"Let's go see. Maybe we can help Edgar." Terra rose to her feet, but the Chancellor shook his head.
"But, Miss Terra, these things can get quite out of hand, it'd be dangerous for a lady of your petite stature - uh..okay."
The Chancellor faltered. Because Terra was too polite to glare, she only gave the elderly man a stern look and crisply walked away, just like a trained Imperial soldier suited up in armor for war.
Locke chuckled, and followed Terra out of the room to leave the Chancellor alone. He clapped him on the back before leaving. "Don't take it personally, Frederick. Just don't get in her way."
But this time it was Locke's turn to stare admiringly at Terra, walking behind her a couple paces slower than Terra's march. The way she had dealt with the Chancellor was certainly out of character, but the urge - no, the need - to help people was all Terra. Although Locke could not see her face at the moment, it was a face with narrowed eyes, a turned up nose, and a thin mouth that, if you peered closely, was slightly quivering in anxiety. Indeed, looking at her from behind, he could almost pull out her ponytail and imagine white-blonde hair tumbling down from the head of a tall, serious, formidable ex-general.
Then Locke shook his head. Terra was drastically different than Celes. How could he compare them? Celes had broken his heart, left him in the dust for Setzer, of all people. And the worst part was, and Locke curled his hands into tight fists as he thought this, he still loved her. He couldn't fathom why, but he did. ~Well, all I have to do is ignore this feeling.~ He thought.
~This stupid, annoying, feeling in my chest that just won't bugger off no matter how hard I try.~
If Locke was the romantic type, he would've known that that 'stupid, annoying feeling in his chest that just won't bugger off' was his heart. Of course, that sounds too cheesy for him to think, and waaaaay too cheesy for me to type unless I want to gag, so we'll just ignore the last sentence.
But Terra.. she had always been there for him. He could count her. Because she was always just...there.
He liked knowing that he could count on her to always be there for him. But Locke should know better than thinking
that something or someone will always be around waiting for him. He had tried that before with Rachel. It didn't work then, and it wouldn't work now.
As they passed a window, Locke looked out and saw just as the Chancellor had said - a very large, unhappy-looking crowd armed and ready. Locke could distantly hear Edgar's clear, commanding voice from somewhere in the front of the castle, but it appeared his speech was not giving effect. Locke saw from somewhere in that crowd a person was pulling back a quiver on a bow - and it looked as if it would hit Terra, a couple windows in front of him..hmm, that's never a good sign..
"DUCK!" Locke zoomed forward and pushed Terra roughly out of the way.
They both fell down onto the cold stone ground, although Locke was on top of Terra. He felt strange, just as he did that morning, his cheek against the softness of her hair. Terra seeemed to be breathing heavily, and saying something, but Locke could not make it out. He turned his ear towards her. Then, Terra turned her head as well, and Locke's neck felt tingly with her breath on it. She was wheezing something, and Locke still couldn't hear. "What?"
"Locke...can't...breathe.."
"OH!" Locke jumped up, his face very red, and lent Terra a hand to stand up. She was inhaling deeply, and looked alarmed. Locke searched for what she was staring at, and saw the tapestry on the wall behind them, burning steadily from the flamed arrow. Terra gaped at it, red eyes narrowed angrily, and the fire grew weaker, looking as if it would die out. Locke patted at the cloth. "It doesn't look like it'll spread - OW!" The flame had grown close to his hand and licked it mockingly.
The fire abruptly went out cold.. Locke could've sworn he didn't feel that breeze that had come out of nowhere a second ago.
"We have to help Edgar!" said Terra, and she began running towards the stairs. Locke ran after her, and they climbed the stairs to reach to the very top of the castle. This place was normally a lookout for soldiers, sometimes a stargazing spot, and now being used to address a mob. Nobody noticed them appear up the stairs, as a group of soldiers were lined up in front of them, and in the very front, stood a very crossed Edgar.
"Hold your fire!" Edgar thundered. "Or we will shoot!"
"Sort of stupid, really, to attack." Locke whispered to Terra. "They have weaker weapons while we have machinary and cannons. We also have the altitude advantage - they're naked where we're standing. We can see and shoot at every one of them."
"I think this might be more of a protest than an all-out battle." Terra whispered back. Locke rolled his eyes.
"So what was up with that fire arrow? A complaint?"
"You will pay for your sins!" shouted a man who appeared to be the leader. He held the biggest, brightest torch, and Terra felt eerie when seeing that the flame was of a bright blood-red color instead of varying colors of orange, red and yellow. Also, looking more closely, she saw that every person standing was painted in colors of white, yellow, green, and red. They wore ratty-looking robes. Some of them wore mere togas, sleeveless and one-shouldered, while others were all-out creepy in full length dark, dusty robes, with a hood covering so that you could not see a face at all.
"And what sins were those?" Edgar said dryly, but the man ignored him.
"He shall come back and reap upon your souls for defying him!
"Then He will feast on your blood and gore, the remains of your rottin bodies!!"
"Well, that's pleasant." Locke muttered. He recieved a poke in the elbow to his side.
"Ow!" Locke scowled. "What'd you do that for?"
Too loudly.
The soldiers turned to stare at them, and the two ex-Returners felt very small, indeed.
"Er...we'll just go now." Terra said in a small, tiny, insignificant voice, which was exactly how she felt.
"Terra! Locke!" Edgar's tired, king-weary face looked at them. It seemed there were lines on that handsome face that the two had never noticed before. Perhaps they were wrong, but although Edgar was the more attractive one of the twins, Sabin looked the part of the younger brother. Now more than ever.
There were twangs, and Edgar spun around to see that the Kefkanians had launched some more arrows. They surely could not do too much harm, as the Figaro Castle was mostly made up of stone and metals that were very fire-proof ever since that first Kefka incident, but they made Edgar angrier and kinglier than ever. He turned around again to speak to Commander Cecil.
(A/N: ...what?? Stop looking at me like that! Its a coincidence, alright? A COMPLETE COINCIDENCE!!! ..I couldn't think of any other original character name. And that'd be stupid if I just named 'em Commander Johnson or something. I mean, really. Thats not a Final Fantasy name at all!! Then again, neither is Yuffie, but whatever..)
"Send 10 archers to the east and west wings of the castle. Shoot on command. Do NOT hesitate to use the crossbows."
Commander Cecil nodded and left with the very, very tall soldiers. Terra and Locke knew they were tall, because they had obviously been hidden completely from view behind the soldiers from the Kefkanians. However, now the cult below began murmering amongst themselves, and Edgar's steely voice cut through the muttering.
"You have attacked despite my warnings. Run, now, and nobody will have to be arrested."
"We will never run! Our God, Kefka, shall aid us in the triumph of defeating the scum of the Returners and all allies!"
"God?" Terra said disbelievingly.
"A god is a protector, a saint of sorts. Kefka is none of the above. He's nothing but a crazy man driven mad by power."
She did not realize she had spoken above a whisper, and clapped a hand over her mouth in shock while Locke looked sort of impressed in an amused way. "Go Terra." Locke cheered quietly, speaking under his breath.
"I - i didn't MEAN to say that so loud - " Terra hissed at Locke, but the louder murmers from the crowd signaled that they had indeed heard her words. Then, quite suddenly, it grew dead silent, because the leader pointed a trembling, bony finger straight at her. His eyes were wide and maddened.
"It's her! She is the one!!"
(A/N: NEO!! :D)
There was a hush. Then the crowd made a strange buzzing sound, that grew louder and angrier.
Locke quirked an eyebrow at Terra humorously, but there was still the teeniest bit of worry in his voice.
"That can't be a good sign. I mean, I don't like your hair like that either, but geez, that was just plain rude. I wasn't going to say anything about it." Edgar was very pale, as he turned to Terra. Her skin prickled at the tension. Again, she thought how much older Edgar looked.
"Locke, take Terra back inside. Now."
The addressed person stared quizzically at Edgar's white, panicked face.
"Edgar, what's.."
"NOW!"
Locke grabbed Terra's arm. "C'mon." He muttered to her, but Terra stood her ground, staring at Edgar fearfully.
"Edgar.."
But Edgar refused to meet her eye. He turned around, hoping for a distraction. The Goddesses must have been listening, for the sound of hundreds of arrows whizzing past reached their ears. The attack had begun. The Kefkanians began yelling and scatttered around. However, the chaos didn't seem to bother the leader the least. In fact, it pleased him. Just as Terra finally gave in and let Locke pull her down the stairs, the leader began laughing maniacally. It sent shivers down everyone's back, and chilled Terra to the bone. He sounded just like Kefka.
-----------------------
Celes stared out the window, watching the winter wonderland that was in Narshe year-round happen before her eyes. She sighed contentedly. There was nothing nicer than snowflakes dirfting down the pure snow in her opinion. She'd really rather be outside with them, but Setzer protested that she would freeze and get a cold. Her mouth twisted into a small grin. She had never known Setzer to have a protective, caring side. Sure, he was a charmer, and sweet to any lady who looked at him, but there was something in his voice and in his eye that made you feel secure. Like you knew he would protect you.
~How could I even think that?~ Celes thought, blinking to stop the tears welling up in her eyes.
~Locke promised..he promised to protect me forever. That he would never let anything hurt me..~
There was a knock on the door. Celes hurriedly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and opened it. There stood Arvis, looking dashing in a crisp suit. He looked every part of a nervous politician, in Celes' opinion.
"Good morning, Celes." Arvis said pleasantly.
"Hello, Mayor." Celes said, and Arvis made a small smile. "Back from Vector so soon?" Arvis nodded.
"Urgent last-minute meeting was made here for the comittee and the council. Something about tax issues - I was urged to come here quickly. Also, there's a new shipment of supplies ready to be delivered. It seems Maranda has just ran short, as a chocobo messanger has just came with a letter from them. Is Setzer ready to fly?"
"When am I not?" Setzer demanded, appearing behind Celes.
"I'm like a bird. And yet..another damned shitload of bricks on my beloved. When will it stop?"
"When the new airship is finished and built." The mayor replied nonchalantly.
His eyes twinkled, not at all offended by Setzer's language. Indeed, he was used to it.
"Yeah, yeah.." Setzer grumbled, grabbing his coat and looking for his boots.
"Wanna come along for the ride, Celly-welly?" Celes frowned at the ridiculous pet name, but decided to play along.
"Sure thing. Just give me a minute to change, Sexy Wetsy."
Setzer opened and closed his mouth furiously like a speechless goldfish. Arvis shook his head, looking a bit disturbed.
"I don't want to know. I have to get to the meeting. Be down by the weaponry shop in 15."
Arvis began to go down the steps, but paused, turning to look at Setzer.
"You know, she never used to joke around like she does now. You're a good thing for her, Setzer."
Setzer was struggling with his boots and didn't say anything.
Arvis watched him pull on his left shoe and begin fighting with his right.
"You two really look like you're inlove. So do me a favor, and go see Locke on the way back from Maranda. Give him closure, acceptance - anything. Locke is my friend and your's. He has enough undeserved pain in his life as it is already."
Setzer continued to pursue his endless struggle with the boots. Arvis paused for a moment, then turned around and left. The gambler stopped with his boots and stared out the same window that Celes had been gazing out of.
~He knows this is all wrong.~ Arvis shook his head, walking briskly, smiling and dipping his head slightly at some people he knew. ~He knows this, I know this, Locke knows this. Locke and Celes are supposed to be together. They were meant for eachother. Celes only loves one man. So why is Setzer playing along like this? Why does he pretend?~
Arvis sighed, and pushed his hair back.
~Its all up to Celes. She's acting just like Setzer - pretending this is right. Her pride was deeply cut by Locke. But for once in her life, she needs to forget that pride, and do the right thing that her heart is telling her to do.~ Arvis frowned.
~I wish I had gone to the wedding. Then I would understand more what the whole fight was all about..Surely it had to be something big, to pull apart Locke and Celes like this..they've handled Kefka and more trouble in the world, you'd think they'd be able to deal with a simple lovers' quarrel.~
A/N: Have a good 'un. :P
A/N: Konnichiwa, minna! -_-;; Er..sorry. Been watching my old subtitled Sailormoon movies back from 4th grade.
That's what boredom drives you to. Um, anyways.. to those of you living in US of A, Happy 4th of July!
I'm leaving for the East Coast (back to my roots! WOOT!) in 2 days. Gah. Family vacations.. I mean, they wouldn't let me take my best bud along! Ah well. Back to the point. So, there won't be another chapter up for Silent Tears for about 2 weeks. (While otherwise I've been regularly updating once a week) This is due to the trip AND also towards the fact that I'm not throwing out these chapters one after the other anymore.. :( It's getting harder to write the plotline.
I know where I'm taking this, I just don't know *how* to get there.
Thanks for all the support!! LOCKE + TERRA 4EVER!! WOOOOT!!
Disclaimers: I just realized I haven't been putting these in. *stares around wildly* You can't sue me now!! It's here! Look! I don't own anything! AAAAAH! Run awaaaaaaaay!
And now, finally, the reviewer response section..
furysetzer - Dawson's Creek?? Well, not quite. I mean, you don't see everyone shagging eachother this way and that, do you? Wait, this gives me a good idea..perhaps Edgar could play as 'Jack'..O_O WEE! What fun! Terra and locke would be joey and dawson, of course..no, wait!! they don't end up together at the end! cuz joey goes to pacey...hmm..this might be a little tricky.
Lady Deathstryke - @_@ So many new reviewers! (Well..actually, not really, but its alot to me. XD) Killing off Terra isn't so bad. I mean, as long as she got to kiss Locke before she died...right?? RIGHT?!! Its the opposite in this story. I make Kefka go from normal to insane. YAY!
Andromeda Highwind - *pats back* There, there. Here's a tissue. ..But Terra can NEVER suffer enough! BUAHAHAHAH - *hack* *cough* *wheeze*
Kt (donaldduckfan4@aol.com) - Isn't Zidane that dude with the monkey tail? o_O HE'S the ladies' man?? A half-monkey gets all the honeys? XD Lol, sorry, couldn't resist that lil' ditty of a rhyme. Wait, that didn't EXACTLY rhyme..
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CHAPTER 7
"Ter, wake up."
Ruby eyes slowly fluttered open. Locke's breath got caught in his throat for a moment - he had never noticed how - well, beautiful wasn't the exact word for it. They were better described as -
~strange.~ Locke thought. ~But in a good way.~
The strangely red-eyed half esper stretched out on the couch and stared sleepily at him.
"How come you look so darn energetic?" She said, slurring her words like a drunk.
"You're the one who was walking all last night." Locke laughed and flexed his muscles in a cheesy way.
"Me? My muscles don't know what 'tired' means! Fire runs in my blood - "
"Stop talking so louuuuud!" Terra whined and tried to move her head back down on the couch, desperate for some more sleep. But she had moved too fast, and the head bashed against hard wood, only covered by a surface of thick fabric.
Terra emitted a painful shriek and clutched at her head, while Locke laughed at her.
"Stop it!" Terra moaned. Locke's laughter only made her pounding head feel worse.
"I could be bleeding for all you know."
"Let me see." Locke moved closer and shifted through Terra's messy bed-head green hair. Terra would've considered the irony of this from just last night, when she had been playing with Locke's hair while nodding off to sleep, but her rapidly swelling head was distracting her at the moment.
Locke was having an even harder time than Terra, being so close to her. He remembered when just two nights ago, Terra had near suffocated him with her seemingly frail arms around him, cutting off his air circulation. The familiar aroma in her hair entered his nose. He swallowed a lump in his throat and stepped back.
"Nope, no bumps or bleeding," Locke said cheerfully. "Just some lice running through your scalp, no biggie - "
"LOCKE!" The said person ducked as Terra swiftly swung a cushion at him, regaining for just a moment her Esper agility.
That being said, Terra was not the only person who walked out of the tower/guestroom with a pounding headache. It appeared that the cushions were of wood too, only covered by fabric. Edgar and the technology-advanced people of Figaro paid much attention to machinery and not all too much to furniture, so as it happened, they would not invent soft, feather-filled cushions or couches for another 11 years.
Edgar watched, with a strange but unreadable expression, as Locke and Terra entered the dining room bickering jokingly and laughing. They currently looked nothing like two crucial members of the group of heroes that saved the world, but more like two ordinary teenagers or just barely young adults, exchanging flirtatious banter.
~Flirtatious?~ Edgar tried to shake off that weird feeling he was experiencing in his gut.
~I'm reading into this too much.~ He thought. ~I've been over her for a long, long time.~ He tried to smile at the duo.
"You're back so soon, Locke." Edgar said stiffly. What was wrong with his voice?? He was having difficulty talking.
"So where's Celes?"
This produced a strange reaction, in Edgar's eyes. Locke flinched, as if Edgar had released a starving Gau on his leg, and for a very long moment there was something in Locke's eyes that were different - no, that's not right. The thing was, there was NOTHING in his eyes. But Terra squeezed his hand (and Edgar finally noticed, with a twinge of that feeling again, that their fingers were entwined together) and with a feeling of great difficulty, Locke pulled himself back to reality and his eyes returned to its youthful, mischevious spark.
"Good." Locke said cheekily. "We exchanged a word or two, discussed our failing relationship, that sort of thing." Locke swallowed, but continued to grin as always. "Haven't exactly discussed divorce yet, but since we're technically not off our honeymoon yet, we'll postpone those issues and try to enjoy ourselves for the remainder of our vacation."
Terra tried not to stare admiringly at Locke, and restrained from applauding him. She was very surprised at how well Locke was handling this, yet she knew she shouldn't be. Because this was how Locke dealt with things - he kept an optimistic outlook and oozed of sarcasm for all he was worth. And she could tell he was trying VERY HARD not to break out into tears and not drown the desert into an ocean. Suddenly, Terra felt very stupid and ashamed of herself and her almost nightly habit of wallowing in self-pity and tears. Locke was so much stronger than her. It almost mad her proud, like a mother when her son turned into a 'man', whatever that could be.
She sighed, and whispered a half-hearted "I love you" without even realizing it until a second later. With wide eyes and sudden tense shoulders, she snuck a glimpse at Locke, who didn't seem to have heard her fatal confession, or if he did, he ignored it entirely. Terra silently relaxed in relief and thanked the Goddesses. Apparently it was getting harder and harder to contain her long-kept secret every moment she was with Locke.
"Well, don't just stand there, have breakfast." Edgar motioned with his hands, and Locke sat down, while Terra walked towards the kitchen for yet another daily coffee to start her day.
"Was Terra with you? The head maid checked her room and said she wasn't there." Edgar said casually.
Locke nodded. "She found me."
"Ah." Edgar nodded, and made a note to himself to talk to Terra for more details on what happened.
"Its so quiet now." said Terra's voice, and the two men looked up to see Terra looking out by the window, holding her mug.
They did not reply, but were wondering how Terra could've entered so quietly, that it went by unnoticed by Locke's trained 'treasure hunter' senses. Terra didn't notice their unusual silence and continued speaking.
"I mean, I was sure that Sabin and Gau would stay longer, Edgar. I kind of miss them - they're the rowdiest group in the bunch. Are they back at the Veldt?"
Edgar cleared his throat. "No, actually. They're at Thamasa."
Locke looked surprised. "Why?"
The king of Figaro looked slightly abashed, and coughed embaressedly.
"They wish to keep it a secret from us right now."
"A secret?" Terra and Locke exchanged a look. "Edgar, you're not saying that..Sabin...and Gau.."
"Oh, goddess NO!!" Edgar hastily replied. "Its certainly not that!..but, well, they'll tell you when they're ready."
"It sure sounds like a heavy-duty secret if you ask me." Locke said, still silently communicating with Terra through their eyes. "But okay then."
"Yes, it sounds serious." Terra moved forward and grabbed Edgar's hand. "No one's sick or in trouble, are they?"
Edgar had to pause before answering, but only because he was once again surprised by Terra's catlike speed. She moved so gracefully and silently - and fast. Edgar tried to remember if she had always moved like this.
"Er - no." Terra obviously didn't trust that hesitation, and narrowed her glimmering garnet eyes.
"No, really! I assure you, they're both fine. Everyone. Relm, too." Edgar added, as a sort of hint to them. It seemed to get through to Locke, who seemed to hide a grin and leaned back in his chair, but all Terra was doing seemed to be thinking thoughtfully. He could not tell what she knew - or didn't know.
The rest of the morning slipped by quietly, as the three friends talked and laughed together in a very relaxed, lazy manner without the hustle and stress of a wedding. Edgar had scheduled to spend the whole day with Terra (and now Locke as well) and put aside any conferences and meetings for this. Those plans were quickly ruined when in the middle of a talkative, chatty lunch, the Chancellor burst in the room, looking flushed and ashamed.
"I - i'm sorry, King Edgar, but they won't leave - they refuse to budge! Please forgive me, Miss Terra and Mr. Locke, but this
is urgent. I am forced to directly ask you, your majesty, to come and remove the - er, problem - from the premises."
Edgar did not say anything but merely nodded and stood up.
"Please finish your meal. I'll be back shortly." Edgar said to Terra and Locke in a clipped, short voice. Also dubbed as his 'all-about-business kingly tone.'
"Whats going on?" Terra asked, as the Chancellor wringed his hands and was just about to follow Edgar out of the room. Distracted, the Chancellor looked around a bit before settling his nervous eyes on Terra.
"Oh, er - Miss Terra, it really isn't a matter that should bother you, but - erm - "
Under Terra's steady red eyes, the Chancellor gulped.
"The cult; The Kefkanians. We thought we'd already sent a troop of soldiers to their most recent hideout and burned it down, but it seems they had escaped, and grown even bigger. There's a mob outside the castle, with torches and other unpleasant weapons, and they don't look like a civilized bunch."
"Let's go see. Maybe we can help Edgar." Terra rose to her feet, but the Chancellor shook his head.
"But, Miss Terra, these things can get quite out of hand, it'd be dangerous for a lady of your petite stature - uh..okay."
The Chancellor faltered. Because Terra was too polite to glare, she only gave the elderly man a stern look and crisply walked away, just like a trained Imperial soldier suited up in armor for war.
Locke chuckled, and followed Terra out of the room to leave the Chancellor alone. He clapped him on the back before leaving. "Don't take it personally, Frederick. Just don't get in her way."
But this time it was Locke's turn to stare admiringly at Terra, walking behind her a couple paces slower than Terra's march. The way she had dealt with the Chancellor was certainly out of character, but the urge - no, the need - to help people was all Terra. Although Locke could not see her face at the moment, it was a face with narrowed eyes, a turned up nose, and a thin mouth that, if you peered closely, was slightly quivering in anxiety. Indeed, looking at her from behind, he could almost pull out her ponytail and imagine white-blonde hair tumbling down from the head of a tall, serious, formidable ex-general.
Then Locke shook his head. Terra was drastically different than Celes. How could he compare them? Celes had broken his heart, left him in the dust for Setzer, of all people. And the worst part was, and Locke curled his hands into tight fists as he thought this, he still loved her. He couldn't fathom why, but he did. ~Well, all I have to do is ignore this feeling.~ He thought.
~This stupid, annoying, feeling in my chest that just won't bugger off no matter how hard I try.~
If Locke was the romantic type, he would've known that that 'stupid, annoying feeling in his chest that just won't bugger off' was his heart. Of course, that sounds too cheesy for him to think, and waaaaay too cheesy for me to type unless I want to gag, so we'll just ignore the last sentence.
But Terra.. she had always been there for him. He could count her. Because she was always just...there.
He liked knowing that he could count on her to always be there for him. But Locke should know better than thinking
that something or someone will always be around waiting for him. He had tried that before with Rachel. It didn't work then, and it wouldn't work now.
As they passed a window, Locke looked out and saw just as the Chancellor had said - a very large, unhappy-looking crowd armed and ready. Locke could distantly hear Edgar's clear, commanding voice from somewhere in the front of the castle, but it appeared his speech was not giving effect. Locke saw from somewhere in that crowd a person was pulling back a quiver on a bow - and it looked as if it would hit Terra, a couple windows in front of him..hmm, that's never a good sign..
"DUCK!" Locke zoomed forward and pushed Terra roughly out of the way.
They both fell down onto the cold stone ground, although Locke was on top of Terra. He felt strange, just as he did that morning, his cheek against the softness of her hair. Terra seeemed to be breathing heavily, and saying something, but Locke could not make it out. He turned his ear towards her. Then, Terra turned her head as well, and Locke's neck felt tingly with her breath on it. She was wheezing something, and Locke still couldn't hear. "What?"
"Locke...can't...breathe.."
"OH!" Locke jumped up, his face very red, and lent Terra a hand to stand up. She was inhaling deeply, and looked alarmed. Locke searched for what she was staring at, and saw the tapestry on the wall behind them, burning steadily from the flamed arrow. Terra gaped at it, red eyes narrowed angrily, and the fire grew weaker, looking as if it would die out. Locke patted at the cloth. "It doesn't look like it'll spread - OW!" The flame had grown close to his hand and licked it mockingly.
The fire abruptly went out cold.. Locke could've sworn he didn't feel that breeze that had come out of nowhere a second ago.
"We have to help Edgar!" said Terra, and she began running towards the stairs. Locke ran after her, and they climbed the stairs to reach to the very top of the castle. This place was normally a lookout for soldiers, sometimes a stargazing spot, and now being used to address a mob. Nobody noticed them appear up the stairs, as a group of soldiers were lined up in front of them, and in the very front, stood a very crossed Edgar.
"Hold your fire!" Edgar thundered. "Or we will shoot!"
"Sort of stupid, really, to attack." Locke whispered to Terra. "They have weaker weapons while we have machinary and cannons. We also have the altitude advantage - they're naked where we're standing. We can see and shoot at every one of them."
"I think this might be more of a protest than an all-out battle." Terra whispered back. Locke rolled his eyes.
"So what was up with that fire arrow? A complaint?"
"You will pay for your sins!" shouted a man who appeared to be the leader. He held the biggest, brightest torch, and Terra felt eerie when seeing that the flame was of a bright blood-red color instead of varying colors of orange, red and yellow. Also, looking more closely, she saw that every person standing was painted in colors of white, yellow, green, and red. They wore ratty-looking robes. Some of them wore mere togas, sleeveless and one-shouldered, while others were all-out creepy in full length dark, dusty robes, with a hood covering so that you could not see a face at all.
"And what sins were those?" Edgar said dryly, but the man ignored him.
"He shall come back and reap upon your souls for defying him!
"Then He will feast on your blood and gore, the remains of your rottin bodies!!"
"Well, that's pleasant." Locke muttered. He recieved a poke in the elbow to his side.
"Ow!" Locke scowled. "What'd you do that for?"
Too loudly.
The soldiers turned to stare at them, and the two ex-Returners felt very small, indeed.
"Er...we'll just go now." Terra said in a small, tiny, insignificant voice, which was exactly how she felt.
"Terra! Locke!" Edgar's tired, king-weary face looked at them. It seemed there were lines on that handsome face that the two had never noticed before. Perhaps they were wrong, but although Edgar was the more attractive one of the twins, Sabin looked the part of the younger brother. Now more than ever.
There were twangs, and Edgar spun around to see that the Kefkanians had launched some more arrows. They surely could not do too much harm, as the Figaro Castle was mostly made up of stone and metals that were very fire-proof ever since that first Kefka incident, but they made Edgar angrier and kinglier than ever. He turned around again to speak to Commander Cecil.
(A/N: ...what?? Stop looking at me like that! Its a coincidence, alright? A COMPLETE COINCIDENCE!!! ..I couldn't think of any other original character name. And that'd be stupid if I just named 'em Commander Johnson or something. I mean, really. Thats not a Final Fantasy name at all!! Then again, neither is Yuffie, but whatever..)
"Send 10 archers to the east and west wings of the castle. Shoot on command. Do NOT hesitate to use the crossbows."
Commander Cecil nodded and left with the very, very tall soldiers. Terra and Locke knew they were tall, because they had obviously been hidden completely from view behind the soldiers from the Kefkanians. However, now the cult below began murmering amongst themselves, and Edgar's steely voice cut through the muttering.
"You have attacked despite my warnings. Run, now, and nobody will have to be arrested."
"We will never run! Our God, Kefka, shall aid us in the triumph of defeating the scum of the Returners and all allies!"
"God?" Terra said disbelievingly.
"A god is a protector, a saint of sorts. Kefka is none of the above. He's nothing but a crazy man driven mad by power."
She did not realize she had spoken above a whisper, and clapped a hand over her mouth in shock while Locke looked sort of impressed in an amused way. "Go Terra." Locke cheered quietly, speaking under his breath.
"I - i didn't MEAN to say that so loud - " Terra hissed at Locke, but the louder murmers from the crowd signaled that they had indeed heard her words. Then, quite suddenly, it grew dead silent, because the leader pointed a trembling, bony finger straight at her. His eyes were wide and maddened.
"It's her! She is the one!!"
(A/N: NEO!! :D)
There was a hush. Then the crowd made a strange buzzing sound, that grew louder and angrier.
Locke quirked an eyebrow at Terra humorously, but there was still the teeniest bit of worry in his voice.
"That can't be a good sign. I mean, I don't like your hair like that either, but geez, that was just plain rude. I wasn't going to say anything about it." Edgar was very pale, as he turned to Terra. Her skin prickled at the tension. Again, she thought how much older Edgar looked.
"Locke, take Terra back inside. Now."
The addressed person stared quizzically at Edgar's white, panicked face.
"Edgar, what's.."
"NOW!"
Locke grabbed Terra's arm. "C'mon." He muttered to her, but Terra stood her ground, staring at Edgar fearfully.
"Edgar.."
But Edgar refused to meet her eye. He turned around, hoping for a distraction. The Goddesses must have been listening, for the sound of hundreds of arrows whizzing past reached their ears. The attack had begun. The Kefkanians began yelling and scatttered around. However, the chaos didn't seem to bother the leader the least. In fact, it pleased him. Just as Terra finally gave in and let Locke pull her down the stairs, the leader began laughing maniacally. It sent shivers down everyone's back, and chilled Terra to the bone. He sounded just like Kefka.
-----------------------
Celes stared out the window, watching the winter wonderland that was in Narshe year-round happen before her eyes. She sighed contentedly. There was nothing nicer than snowflakes dirfting down the pure snow in her opinion. She'd really rather be outside with them, but Setzer protested that she would freeze and get a cold. Her mouth twisted into a small grin. She had never known Setzer to have a protective, caring side. Sure, he was a charmer, and sweet to any lady who looked at him, but there was something in his voice and in his eye that made you feel secure. Like you knew he would protect you.
~How could I even think that?~ Celes thought, blinking to stop the tears welling up in her eyes.
~Locke promised..he promised to protect me forever. That he would never let anything hurt me..~
There was a knock on the door. Celes hurriedly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and opened it. There stood Arvis, looking dashing in a crisp suit. He looked every part of a nervous politician, in Celes' opinion.
"Good morning, Celes." Arvis said pleasantly.
"Hello, Mayor." Celes said, and Arvis made a small smile. "Back from Vector so soon?" Arvis nodded.
"Urgent last-minute meeting was made here for the comittee and the council. Something about tax issues - I was urged to come here quickly. Also, there's a new shipment of supplies ready to be delivered. It seems Maranda has just ran short, as a chocobo messanger has just came with a letter from them. Is Setzer ready to fly?"
"When am I not?" Setzer demanded, appearing behind Celes.
"I'm like a bird. And yet..another damned shitload of bricks on my beloved. When will it stop?"
"When the new airship is finished and built." The mayor replied nonchalantly.
His eyes twinkled, not at all offended by Setzer's language. Indeed, he was used to it.
"Yeah, yeah.." Setzer grumbled, grabbing his coat and looking for his boots.
"Wanna come along for the ride, Celly-welly?" Celes frowned at the ridiculous pet name, but decided to play along.
"Sure thing. Just give me a minute to change, Sexy Wetsy."
Setzer opened and closed his mouth furiously like a speechless goldfish. Arvis shook his head, looking a bit disturbed.
"I don't want to know. I have to get to the meeting. Be down by the weaponry shop in 15."
Arvis began to go down the steps, but paused, turning to look at Setzer.
"You know, she never used to joke around like she does now. You're a good thing for her, Setzer."
Setzer was struggling with his boots and didn't say anything.
Arvis watched him pull on his left shoe and begin fighting with his right.
"You two really look like you're inlove. So do me a favor, and go see Locke on the way back from Maranda. Give him closure, acceptance - anything. Locke is my friend and your's. He has enough undeserved pain in his life as it is already."
Setzer continued to pursue his endless struggle with the boots. Arvis paused for a moment, then turned around and left. The gambler stopped with his boots and stared out the same window that Celes had been gazing out of.
~He knows this is all wrong.~ Arvis shook his head, walking briskly, smiling and dipping his head slightly at some people he knew. ~He knows this, I know this, Locke knows this. Locke and Celes are supposed to be together. They were meant for eachother. Celes only loves one man. So why is Setzer playing along like this? Why does he pretend?~
Arvis sighed, and pushed his hair back.
~Its all up to Celes. She's acting just like Setzer - pretending this is right. Her pride was deeply cut by Locke. But for once in her life, she needs to forget that pride, and do the right thing that her heart is telling her to do.~ Arvis frowned.
~I wish I had gone to the wedding. Then I would understand more what the whole fight was all about..Surely it had to be something big, to pull apart Locke and Celes like this..they've handled Kefka and more trouble in the world, you'd think they'd be able to deal with a simple lovers' quarrel.~
A/N: Have a good 'un. :P