BU - RE - SU

By Tenshi no Ai

(C) Square Enix

II. -Burn-

-0-

The glow of the dawn had softly illuminated much of the room when Beowulf woke up in Zeltennia castle town's most classy inn. Five thousand gil a night, but as he gazed at the woman in his arms the cost was the farthest thing on his mind. Reis was still peacefully sleeping, or at least she was until he began to lay feather-soft kisses along her forehead and cheeks. Scrunching up her face like a disgruntled cuar, she tried to turn away from his affectionate bombardment, but he held her close and murmured close to her ear, "You have to wake up, love. Wake up. Wake u--" He didn't get any further before she, with her eyes still closed, took her pillow and held it against his face.

"Why am I waking up?" she said in the death-warmed-over tone of those who absolutely need nine hours of sleep in order to properly function.

He grinned as he removed the pillow. "We're going home, that's why." He expected her to be happy about this, perhaps ecstatic enough to engage in a little early morning celebration, but instead she just opened her eyes.

"Alright," she mumbled before she got out of bed and began dressing. He did the same, not all that bothered by her cool reaction. She always did like to sleep, he remembered. A few times he looked over at her side, ready with a cute comment about her various stages of undress, but she seemed distracted and he didn't want to annoy her. It was when Beowulf was adjusting his scarf and thinking about the journey from Zeltennia to Lesalia when Reis, who was sitting on the bed with her outer skirt neatly folded on her lap, turned to him and said, "Beowulf, I...I think it would be a good idea to keep traveling with that group."

He paused, blinked, then continued with the very complicated process of arranging the scarf. "Why would you think that?" he asked, just to humor her.

"Because...I think they're doing the right thing. Don't you?"

The scarf was finished before he turned to face her. "What they're doing is admirable," he said slowly, studying the lovely face before him. Her expression was bright and earnest, and he didn't like it one bit. Not with whatever idea she had churning behind those suspiciously challenging eyes.

"So..." A look of shy encouragement blossomed on her face, still at odds with her eyes. "We can join them?"

She can't possibly be serious. He turned around and began to focus on his boots. "It's a tough life, love. Anyway, they're heading south and we're going west." There was silence while he put on his boots and laced his greaves around them. Then, because he was starting to get unnerved by the slightly hostile tinge in the atmosphere, he turned around and smiled charmingly. "I can't wait to introduce you to Sis. She doesn't believe that you're every bit as incredible as I've said you are." He reached out to cup her face but she drew away, her expression one of annoyed dismay.

"I'm being serious. If you think they're admirable, then we should definitely help them." Her hands began to pluck at the skirt in her lap, graceful fingers twisting in the cloth. "After all, I don't think you would've asked them for help if you didn't think they were worthy."

More like they were the only people willing to go into the colliery, he thought, starting to get tired of the conversation. If they didn't leave the inn soon, it would be that much harder to travel through Finath River, where the wild chocobo flocks were rampant in the afternoon. "Reis, that may be so, but it was only to find and restore you. Now that that's done, there's no reason to keep with them."

A frown crossed her face. "So...you used them?"

Irritation sparked in his mind, but he kept his expression pleasant. "They knew that my only reason in joining them was because of you."

"But you stayed with them long enough to get that stone."

"...Yes?"

"So, isn't that using them?"

"What does it matter if I did or not?" he asked, frustrated now. "I assisted them along the way, the both of us did. Now that everything's done, let's go home."

She shook her head, her frown deepening. "Can you really just leave it at that? With your skills, you'd be a valuable asset. Ivalice's future is at stake here."

By God, his love for her reached the heavens, but right now she was really getting on his nerves. He ran a hand through his mussed hair and fought to keep his real thoughts from slipping. "If I do that, then we'll probably be separated for some time. Is that what you want?"

Confusion danced within her eyes. "Separated? But..." Then her frown came back in full force. "I'm going with you." All Beowulf could do was shake his head. "That's not your decision to make," she said, steel in her voice.

Anger began to bubble up within him. "I think I've earned the right by now."

"You didn't..." Turning her head away, all he could see was a long curtain of her blond hair. "I didn't ask you to save me."

"I see. Then, would you have preferred to stay as a dragon?" After a drawn-out moment of silence, he put his hand on her shoulder, trying to get her to face him. "Well?"

Reis' hands went still as she looked over at him. "If it's the only way to get you to do the right thing, then yes."

Her cavalier answer irritated him, and his dark eyes narrowed in response. "The right thing to do would be to go home and live a quiet life with you. I've done what I can, they've helped me restore you, and now it's no longer my business."

She pulled away from him and stood up, all sadness and disbelief. "You...don't you think that's heartless?"

"Heartless?" A part of him, a very small part, tried to tell him that she had always been idealistic. Wasn't that one of the many things about her he loved? The rest of him insisted that she was being insensitive and geared his responses accordingly. "If I had been heartless, I wouldn't have bothered trying to find you. I've earned the right to live a normal life, and I'm going to take it."

"Fine. Take it. You're right, you've earned it." Her expression was a complex blend of sadness, disappointment, pity...but was he also seeing anger along her pursed lips? "I'll go alone."

His pulse quickened at her announcement and forced him to stand; he wasn't going to keep looking up at her. Not after that. "No, you're not going anywhere." She opened her mouth to speak, but he forged on ahead. "Do you even know what you're saying? Are you really that willing to throw your life away?"

"Beowulf--"

"Anyway, what are you going to do for them? Cooking? Leading them to monsters for food? You can't wield a weapon and you're no longer a dragon."

With anger now blazing in her eyes, she said, "I can fight."

"Being a human shield for other people isn't fighting." As soon as he said that, he was sorry he had. Shock widened her eyes, then fury darkened her cheeks. Expressed anger was a rarity for her, and even though he wasn't too happy himself he tried to soothe her. "Reis, I--"

"How dare you," she whispered. "You all but imply that I don't appreciate what you've done for me, but you can just conveniently forget why you had to 'bother'?" Taking a deep breath, her normal blank expression swept over her face like waves over Gariland's shoreline. "I can fight, believe me."

"I find it hard to," he responded, properly chastised but still clinging onto that point that proved he was in the right. He was right, he was sure of it. "If you can prove it, fine. We'll both go." There was nothing she could do, he knew it. There wasn't anything different about this incarnation of Reis, other than her ordering steak when all she ate before were salads and soups. But now her smile was confusing him. She pointed at a tall candle resting on the armoire across the bed, just a couple paces from where she stood.

Then, she breathed.

-End to Burn-

The last drabble didn't have a line of dialogue. This one makes up for that. I've always believed that it was Reis' idea for them to join Ramza's party, because there's no way in hell Beowulf would've suggested that after finally having her back and restored.

Ivalice must have the worst inflation rates ever. Seriously, when a bottle of holy water is 2 thousand gil a bottle and perfume is 30,000 gil AND you have to kill the monster, I would hate to see the inn rates in a capital city like Zeltennia Castle.

Reviewers!

Yo, TruebornChaos. Yeah, I think that's how it goes. Wow, I mention one little line and suddenly everybody's tossing back references. That's awesome. Anyway, glad you liked the story.

Heh, exactly TobyKikami. I've got to throw a bard in a story sometime. Everyone should have a planned works section, because it keeps one honest about what they're going to do. Funny thing is, I think I used the wrong word for that title. I meant 'libation'. I don't know, what do you think goes better when the sacrifice is blood?

Thanks, gleenthefrog. I hope this also answers your question in the epilogue of Penitentes about if I was ever going to write about Reis again. I just can't stay away.

Y'know Evil Mina, I think your review's longer than the story! I kid; I think it's awesome. Besides, I'd think that all writers--especially in a small section like this one--would do bad things just get people who will review, not to talk of reviewing every chapter. I'm really honored.
Personally, I really like drabbles. They're bite-sized stories.
The line you pointed out is awkward, but even now I'm not sure how to change it, or if I should at all. I can think of lots of examples where explaining something can be possible but not good, or at least not a good idea. Hey, that's what's wrong with that line! Thanks! As far as noticing game stuff goes, I've always loved the research aspect of fanfiction. Hey, I'm a fan, what can I say?
I found it funny that you pointed out all the things I got in your last review of Penitentes, but not the things I was confused about, like when you asked if the last line had anything to do with a series I was planning on, or what the 'funny and clever lines' you found on a second reading were. I'm still looking for them. :)