Pilotslover
Chapter 13 - Fancy dress - Unknown pasts
Authors Note: (wails) I am so sorry! I meant to update sooner but somehow I couldn't finish this damned thing, so bits of the very very end may seen a little rushed.
Disclaimer: I don't own FFIX and all it's related places, people etc, I wish I did. I won't be making any profit from this work, again, I wish I did, I need the cash.
LottiRebel - Meh, I can take mean. It's okay, and yes, Eiko is in this bit!
Gelendra - Alrighty! Trying to close things up!
Shana Skye - I'm in 100's of different minds as to what Vivi looks like, in my current work ('Shattered Soul') He's different again!
Muyu & Yuyi - You do find out about Kuja's good side in this chapter and I'd say Vivi's more cute then sexy. However, if he was a few years younger, then maybe he'd be sexy. (Turns Vivi into a Vincent Lookalike in her head,) Hell yeah!
La LLama - More Kuja and Vivi for you! I like you, you've kept reviewing this!
GemEncrustedEarth - Translations are in the next bit - realised I can't spell even in my own languages! Lol.
ashitaka666 - At first this was gonna be part of a series, then I came up with something better and so I'm going to continue that instead, tho there is a hint as to what I'm going to do with Vivi in the later fic hidden in this one!
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2 Months later,
Exactly five years since the travellers defeat of Necron
2 hours before the 25th annual Gaia ball
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"C'mon Vivi, if I have wear a suit then you're going in something formal too."
The two friends stood in one of the castles many corridors, the Mage brushed down the front of his jacket. "I am in something formal; Black Mages are in formal wear all the time." He walked away from Zidane, but the thief was not allowing his friend to get away so easily, throwing himself at Vivi's legs. "Get off me!" The mage yelped slightly, trying to shake Zidane off whilst staying on his feet. The Genome did not do so and Vivi fell to the ground.
"Please Vivi; I'll feel like such an idiot if I'm the only one wearing formal stuff."
"T - That's not my problem Zidane." He grabbed the waistband of his trousers in order to keep them up. "Zidane get off, you're going to pull my trousers down." Vivi tugged desperately at it. The thief's eyes lightened with mischief, "O - Off my trousers."
"Wear something formal or I'll pull your damned trousers off and run around the castle with them!"
Realising that Zidane would probably make good of his treat, Vivi sighed. "O - Okay," He murmured slightly, "But … I get to wear my mask," Zidane grinned slightly he had expected that. "And my hat," The mage said as an after thought.
"Nope, it's all or nothing."
Zidane finally let him go, jumping lithely to his feet. "We've got about two hours, Garnet wants to see you; fancy dress ball my ass, she just wants to stick me in something blindingly uncomfortable for a few hours. I wonder what she's got in mind for you and herself for that matter."
The mage stood, pulling up his trousers, brushing down the front of them and adjusting his hat. "It's good to see you two working as a team again," Vivi mumbled to himself slightly bitterly, recently Garnet and Zidane seemed to be getting on again, which was a good thing because it meant they were both in better moods.
"You'd better go now; I hope she's chosen you something really good."
Detecting a slight tease to Zidane's tones, Vivi just ignored him; he slowly made his way to Garnet's chamber. Beatrix held the door for him, and he thanked her quickly before entering. As soon as he did so, Garnet snatched his hat. "Hey, that's mine, give it back." He attempted, his tones showing that he knew this would not work in returning the hat to its rightful owner. "Come on Dagger, that's not funny." She smiled, managing to keep far enough away from him so that he could not get his hat back. He could of course, use his magic to make her return his property but he did not. "Zidane said you wanted to see me,"
"Yes I do, I wondered if you'd even thought about your costume?"
Vivi looked down his front, shaking his head slightly. "I - I was going to go like this." He told her, he had been busy enough helping the boys with their outfits over the past few weeks and had not ever intended to wear one of his own. "Why?"
"Come now Vivi, you can't very well go to fancy dress ball as yourself." Garnet chuckled, smiling at him. "That doesn't work does it? No, I think I have the perfect costume, it'll get you out of that mask for a start." Defensively, Vivi pulled at the black covering, he was still not ready to disregard it and doubted he ever would be. "I don't know why you insist on hiding behind it, you're very handsome."
He stepped back from her as she moved towards him, "Vivi Orunitia, Black Mage of Queen's court, I order you to remove that mask." She instructed in her most regal tones, however this did not have the effect she had expected.
"S - Since when am I the courts black mage?"
Garnet ignored the question, smiling to herself. "I promise it won't be anything bad, I'm not going to make you wear a dress or anything like that." She promised, "Take that mask off now!" She made a grab for him, which he managed to duck away from, grabbing his hat back as he did so; triumphantly, he jammed it back on his head. "Vivi, why are you so nervous? It's not as if you look like Cinna, and you've got to show Eiko and the others what you look like." She took a few steps more in his direction, which he did not try to avoid, looking up at her in a very defeated way.
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Zidane sighed gustily, leaning against one of the many pillars in the Alexandrian hall; his tail, trapped inside formal trousers wished that it could flick from side to side. He resisted the urge to fold his arms, but only because he knew it would mean Garnet's wrath if he messed up his shirt. He pushed away from it as he heard her approach, his mouth dropping open as he turned to face her. "Wow, Garnet."
His wife smiled easily at him, she wore the red outfit Zidane had seen many of the barmaids in Lindblum wearing. She moved close to him and kissed him, "You look good too Zidane," The Queen offered, adjusting something on his front. "Very noble," She stopped fussing and let him slip his arm around her waist. "What about the others?"
"Well, I've seen the boys, Freya and Fratley are about too, Eiko, Cid and Hilda should be here soon, and I think Quina's around. Oh, and Amarant, I'm surprised he came you know."
"What about Vivi?"
Zidane could not help himself laughing, "Nope, maybe he's made a run for it." He teased slightly, knowing that Garnet had very much wanted for the others to see Vivi without his mask and hat for a change. He turned to face Regent Cid, who was dressed as a common merchant, and Lady Hilda who was dressed as a merchant's wife. "Hi regent, Lady, didn't come as Oglop's I see." He teased, rubbing his bum slightly in an attempt to relieve his slightly sore tail.
"You did not acquire the manners to match your dress I see," Cid sniped in return; however, they knew these exchanges were nothing more then friendly banter.
A smaller form joined them, dressed in a Moogle suit, as it looked up Garnet noticed that the face as cut out of it revealing Eiko. "Hi Zidane, Garnet,"
"Eiko, you look great!"
"Thanks Garnet,"
Six more small forms joined them; each dressed in a unique manner. Valian moved closer to Zidane, his yellow eyes looking out from a costume that mimicked Vivi in Trance. "W - Where's papa?" He asked in a small voice, adjusting the blue coloured hat as he did so.
Eiko's eyes drifted between each of them, Sola moved closer to her; his small form dressed as a thief, with a hat with a feather in it. "Hi, my name's Sola." He introduced brushing a hand along the brim of the hat in a flirty manner; he had only met her once in passing a few years before. "You are without doubt the most beautiful Moogle I've ever seen." Zidane chuckled to himself as he watched the boy flirt so shamelessly. Ollan, dressed as an old style musician shook his head, sending some of the white powder in the wig flying.
Calan prodded Sola in the back with the blunt sword included with his own costume, the visor of the armour almost falling in his line of sight. "You're such a flirt, Eiko's like an aunt." He pointed out logically, placing the sword in its scabbard.
Nicara chuckled slightly, adjusting the fake glasses Tot had given him two days before to complete his mad scientist costume. "Yeah, well I'm not a blood relative now am I?" Sola pointed out, making Turo laugh.
The mischief making Black Mage was dressed in a white sheet, with eyeholes cut out. "Sola's right Calan, he isn't a blood relation of Eiko's," He rested a white gloved hand on Sola's shoulder. "Have you seen Fratley? He came as some sort of Burmecian ghost legend, it's really spooky." He said, abruptly changing the subject. "He's got this white powdery stuff in his fur."
He went to dash off pulling Sola with him to show him the dragon Knight but instead banged into someone else. "Watch where you're going Turo, you'll hurt someone." Vivi's voice warned as he helped the two up again. Garnet had done a good job of dressing him; he wore a pair of plain dull grey trousers with a belt much like his old one, a cream coloured shirt was visible through an open jacket. The jacket was the thing Garnet was most proud of and it had taken a while to persuade him to wear it; it was a rich midnight blue colour with silver stars snaking up the sleeves until the elbow. It was relatively long, hanging to Vivi's knees and showed that he was a lot slimmer then his usual dress led people to believe. She had tied back his hair but two bangs had managed to slip out to fall on his pale face.
The others stood in stunned silence, especially those who had no idea that Vivi were a Human in the first place. A deep blush lit his cheeks as they looked at him and he ducked his head; a slightly proud grin came to Zidane's features as he moved to stand besides the mage, one hand on the teens shoulder. "A remarkable job Garnet," A calm voice offered from just behind Eiko; everyone turned to face a familiar figure, shortened tail flicking from side to side as he looked back at them with a gentle smile. Kuja wore a white made robe, its hood down so that his neatly tied white hair could be seen.
Zidane moved from Vivi's side to that of his brother, "I thought you were still in recuperation," He chided, but he was smiling widely at his brother. "Didn't Tot say you needed at least 14 weeks of rest?" Vivi let out a held breath, Kuja's appearance had drawn everyone's eyes away from him.
"I am not here without his say so, he has someone here to watch me; infact he's set six someone's to watch me. I shall be fine,"
Someone snatched Vivi's hand sharply, drawing startled yellow eyes to Eiko. "Come on Vivi, we're gonna dance!" She insisted, "When those noble brats who laughed at me for being dressed as a moogle see me dancing with you, they'll die!" She started to tug the resistant mage after her, he dug his heels into the floor as much as he could. "Come on!"
Zidane chuckled, he had expected Eiko to react as she was; he shoved Vivi towards the dance floor, helping Eiko to move the unwilling Black Mage. It was a lesser-known fact that Vivi could dance, Garnet had given him some lessons when they had travelled as a way to pass the time; this did not mean that he enjoyed doing it. "Zidane, Eiko, I don't wanna dance," He complained, but the Genome could feel the mage slowly giving up resisting; Vivi would protest for a time but slowly give up when he realised it was hopeless.
The young summoner soon had her wish and the two were soon dancing, Zidane watched his brother from the corner of his eyes, noticing that there was proud smile on the Genome's face. "So, who is he Kuja?" He queried, taking his brother aside, Kuja sighed.
Kuja looked to him with a small sad smile, "I am sorry Zidane, but I have no idea who he is." Kuja admitted, he sat at a nearby table and his brother sat opposite him. "I searched all over Gaia for natural Black mages, but I found only one with the potential to even come close. However, I could not get at him." There was a commotion on the dance floor as Valian and Turo started to dance together in a mockery of the adults around them. "I lost sight of that child."
"But, you found him again right?"
Kuja shook his head, "I can never be sure, I found a child in the very poorest of Treno's slums with potential; he had to be no more then three but my desire to wage war was insatiable so I researched on him and dressed him as a mage." He looked to Zidane, "I intended to later graft wings onto the child, however he fell from an airship close to Treno and I took him for dead. Even if he wasn't, I had suppressed his soul, he would have been blank."
"Did you name him?"
There was a kindly laugh from the older Genome, "No, I used him for research, I never connected with him." He brushed one of the feathers from his hair to one side as it slipped into his pale face. "And I severely doubt I would have named a male child Vivi, I didn't hate him after all. I had him in my care for under a year, I saw no trace of a spell from him."
"The likelihood of finding out who he is - "
" - Is miniscule. Do you think he would truly wish to know?" Kuja completed and queried rhetorically. "He is content enough with who he is to be happy, I doubt he'd thank you for ruining that for him."
A wry smile crossed Zidane's face, "You're probably right, I was happier when before I knew I was a Genome."
"You were luck to have that; you would have turned into something worse then I could have ever been had you known before."
Someone moved to join them, Zidane smiled widely at Garnet. "Hey Dagger," He greeted casually, before standing, bowing and offering her his arm. "Shall we dance fair maiden?" He asked in a mockery of how nobles spoke, the two moved to do so.
"A - Are you okay?" A soft voice asked Kuja, who looked up to see Valian standing close by. The youngest mage could be scarily like his father had been all those years before; from the way he carried himself to the way he spoke.
"I'm not very good with parties,"
Valian giggled slightly, "N - Neither is dad, but he's … doing okay," He looked to where Eiko and Vivi were, the two were drawing a lot of attention because no one could place the handsome, noble looking boy. "I - I think Eiko might have changed her mind about dancing with him, dad's clumsier then I am."
Kuja nodded thoughtfully, though not because he was agreeing with Valian; the conversation he had had with Zidane was still fresh in his mind. "Valian, maybe you won't know this, but does you father remember anything from his past?" He queried, but he knew there was no answer; Vivi's mind had been almost completely blank when he had fallen. "Before the Qu caught him?"
"No, I don't,"
The Genome smiled to himself as he looked to the teenager, Valian hugged against Vivi's side. Nothing was said for a very long time, Kuja was deeply lost in thought and Vivi was anxious as to why Kuja wanted to know what he remembered. "I - I've been thinking," He murmured at length. "Kuja, if you know who I am, I don't wanna know yet; maybe when I'm older but now I'm happy not knowing."
"Vivi, come on!"
"I promised Eiko another dance if she let me go for a few minutes, I'd better get back."
The two mages moved to join the young summoner, "Alright Vivi, if you found out the truth then the history of Alexandria, maybe even of Gaia would change. Your claim to the throne of this city changes everything, considering that Sarah is not the true heir." The Genome brushed some stray feathers from his face, talking to himself was one of the things Kuja has always done. "Of course, this all depends on your being the first child I found, but I can never forget the feel of magic, so powerful and yet so deeply hidden. If you are - "
"Hey Kuj, stop being so antisocial!" Zidane yelled over to him, "I'm sure Ruby will dance with you if you ask,"
"That's your brother? Dahlin' I'd dance with him if he wasn't asking." The Southern belle was dressed as a fox-like being, fake ears poking out from teal coloured hair. "Do you wanna dance with me sugar?" The Genome stood and offered up his arm to her, escorting her onto the dance floor.
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End
Thank you so much for reading! I love all my reviewers for giving me so much encouragement to keep going with something I sometimes wanted to drop. I share with you the cookies Lottirebel gave me for being mean - which you weren't!
Anyway, that's pretty much it for 'Deception?' of course, it's completely open ended, so maybe I'll write a sequel in the future; I'm currently working on 'Shattered Soul' which some of you have been kind enough to both read and review and it's sister piece which I may call 'Something inside' but I'm not sure yet. And, 'Buried Secrets' which people seem keen for me to go on with despite it's being a one shot. (shrugs) What people want, I guess.
Still need review's for this chapter, if I were to write a sequel (no promises) what would you want in it? Translations for this fic are in the next chapter.
If you liked this fic, please read some of my other works; don't read 'Trust' though, it's useless! I'm currently working on 'Shattered Souls' sister, having lost the buzz I had for SS; don't worry it'll come back - I've got enough to post in the mean time.