Chapter 9
Zidane crouched in the bushes, his tail swishing back and forth nervously. He had been watching Blank and Kuja all day, and so far nothing seemed awry, but he wasn't willing to chance leaving them alone just yet.
They walked on and Zidane hurriedly moved alongside them behind the hedges, using all his thief training to be as quiet as possible. They were talking, but too softly for him to make out the words; their heads were tipped close together. He could see that his brother was smiling, which was honestly a little bit discomforting. Kuja rarely smiled, and almost never when he was with other people.
The two men stopped and sat on a bench, and Zidane settled into a crouch, finding a break in the branches through which to watch them.
He felt a twinge of anger as Blank stretched his arms and brought one to rest carelessly draped about Kuja's shoulders. It was the oldest trick in the book, and Zidane bristled at seeing it used on his brother. Kuja had no defense against that sort of thing; he'd never needed to learn it. Likely he hadn't even noticed what Blank had done.
'Son of a bitch must really be enjoying this,' he thought uncharitably. He reminded himself that of course Blank was his friend, and of course he wouldn't do anything downright mean-spirited, but still...
"What are you looking at?" came a voice at his elbow.
Zidane jumped, so startled that he nearly blew his cover. He looked down at the new arrival. "Vivi!" he hissed. "Don't sneak up on me like that! And keep your voice down!"
"Huh?" Vivi looked confused, but obligingly whispered. "Why? What are you doing?"
Zidane sat himself down on the dusty earth and crossed his legs, sighing. "I'm spying on Blank and my brother."
"Why?"
"Because I think that Blank might be trying to make a move on Kuja, and I'm trying to make sure he doesn't get hurt."
Vivi blinked. "Blank or Kuja?"
Zidane started to reply, then paused. It had never occurred to him that Blank might end up being hurt by Kuja. Maybe it should have. "I... er..." he floundered.
Vivi looked out towards the couple on the bench. "I still think it's really weird that Kuja's here. Wasn't he supposed to die?" he asked, changing the subject.
Zidane followed Vivi's gaze, staring at his brother. "He was. Garland said he would when his purpose was complete. Or at least he was supposed to stop working like the Black Mages, or something. I don't know why he didn't. I think it has something to do with him and me being stuck in the Iifa Tree for so long. It does something to your body. Kuja healed from his wounds a lot faster than he should have. But he also lost a lot of the magic he used to have."
"Oh." Vivi fell silent for a moment, then eventually asked, "So, is he like you now?"
Zidane shrugged. "Who knows?"
"I'm glad you brought Kuja back," said Vivi. "I think he deserves another chance."
Zidane nodded.
"He really has changed, hasn't he? It's like he's starting from scratch. Like he's learning all about the world again, like the Black Mages had to."
"He has changed," Zidane agreed. "He's not the Angel of Death anymore. I don't think he ever can be again."
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.