A/n: Ah, just about time I updated, huh? I'm really, really sorry it took so long... I had a horrible 'bout of writers block. I'm back though now, hurrah! And I just don't trust those new fangled reply dealies... I rather like the old fasioned way. .;
A big heatfelt thanks to the reviewers of last round-- NeoNaoNeo It's always been that way, though...I'm sorry! I'm a yaoi fan! T.T;), Pilotsolver (Why thankees!), Steeple333 (I'm working on the grammer! I'm tryin'! T.T; But thankees for the complements...), Malevalla (. Thankees!), Beastiewolf (Thankees, and your very welcome. It's a good thing.) and RoseMage (/ker-bow/ Why thankee! Your so nice.) Ohs, and Pheo (It's still alive! Thanks for the comments!). Hurrah. On to things!
Disclaimer: I hearby disclaim everything I own, and everything I do not.
Beautiful Equilibrium
...jingle...jingle...
Repetitive, but comforting. Gently, the little bell swung in the breeze, the setting sun glinting off tarnished gold metal, the pretty little red ribbon tied around the top slit being held tightly by purple tinged skin, black nails, long fingers. Black Waltz One watched it as it swung back and forth, back and forth, the delicate ringing sounding much more tired than usual. Ivory eyes seemed to match the tone, closing gently as he laying his face against crossed arm, which was in turn resting on the cold marble stone of Alexandria's guest room balcony. The stars were beginning to appear in the listless blackening sky, lanterns lighting in building windows, coating the streets in a warm tawny glow... the waltz's stomach turned over, suddenly nauseated by the whole scene.
...jingle...jingle...
Slowly, the room's heavy oak door opened, letting out a bit of a squeak, then closed soon after. One didn't have to turn around, as his brothers familiar light footsteps reached his ears, the rustle of wings. They approached as Two appeared to his line of sight, the smaller waltz turning his face slightly, as if to restrict his comrades gaze from his.
"...Hito? What's the matter?" The pacifist voice muttered soothingly. One sighed- he was kind of expecting that. The most annoying thing about his sibling was that he had an uncanny ability to sense less than perfect moods.
"...he's probably dead by now, Dyuetto." Was the down trodden answer.
The robed waltz recoiled slightly. "Hitotsu... please don't say that. Mittsu's strong, he'll make it."
There was no answer from the other, as Two's eyes contorted to pure sympathy. He sighed a bit at a length, then shook his head, taking a few steps into the safety of the room, out of One's sight- though that didn't stop his from comforting. "Have faith, brother. I'm sure both he and the Mage have come to some agreement by now... I very much doubt they're fighting anymore. Well, not for now, anyways." He chanced a bit of a nervous chuckle as a hand swept up to take the brim of his hat. "Though as soon as they're free again, I imagine we'll have to hold Mittsu back, eh?"
...jingle...jingle...
One heard the exasperated sigh, but at the moment he didn't much care. He continued gazing solemnly at the little bell, all up until the point where his shoulders were seized and used to twist him around, staring into the face of his companion.
In the security of closed doors, Two had removed not only his steeple crowned hat, but his robes and disengaged his mask as well- dark brown short sleeved tunic, black pants and brown leather boots that almost matched his hat underneath. He looked like his brother in every sense of appearance, though amber white eyes radiated more concern than his more powerful kin ever could. His horns still stood, base hidden by a thick mess of flame red, insanely curly shoulder length hair, tied back with a ribbon identical to the one around One's bell, almost undetectable amidst tresses. The most noticeable trait he and his brother shared, however, was the fading color into their faces- and where Three's had faded to a light stone gray, Two's lightly drifted from solid ebony to a light red, almost to be considered a rosy pink. He chewed upon his bottom lip as One shook his head slightly, his voice dropping to a cautious whisper.
"Dyuetto! What if someone comes in here an-"
"Oh, shove it, that's the least of my worries at the moment." The taller Waltz almost snapped, sending the other into a blinking fit. "Hito, I know you're worried about him, I'm worried too, but that shouldn't force us to loose hope. Certainly it shouldn't send us from each other..." A small smile came to his lips, a gentle curve of perfect features. "And besides, I know you don't really believe he's dead. Wasn't it you who was convinced, after all he's been through, the South Gate incident and everything, that our dear brother is invincible?"
"I never said that." One growled, shoving his shoulders back to disengage Two's hold. The whole movement made him look almost frustrated. "None of us are invincible, you should know that, out of the three of us."
Normally soft voice replied sternly now, quickly. "Let's leave the past out of this, shall we?" His tone, however, made clear there was no question involved in this statement. The belled figure watched him for a quick second, almost warily, before directing his eyes elsewhere. "I didn't want to argue about anything."
"Good, neither did I."
"I just really don't think sitting around here and waiting is gonna help us at all. By this point, I know somethin'll happen to him, somethin'..." He turned, his voice drifting off as he took his place slowly at the balcony again, gazing down into the harbor below. The little bell told of his obvious distress as he watched two figures below, a female voice giggling, belonging to a woman in white robes, being picked up and sprung around briefly by an arriving blonde in a dark blue cloak... though, from this distance, it was impossible to read features, though one could imagine the overjoyed look on either face as they met.
One felt a slight tug on the brim of his hat as he glanced beside him, Two coming to join him in leaning against the banister of the gloomy gray terrace. They both watched the pair for a moment, their faces close, enjoying they're private moment alone... only not.
"I feel so dirty." He commented coolly, after a moment, which received a chuckle from his comrade.
"Hey, if they didn't want other people seein', they wouldn't be doing this here. I mean, the ferry chick's right there, too."
"But she's not watching." Two pointed out, sly smile pulling at the edges of his lips as he observes the very action in which he describes- the Alexandrian solider who had ferried the male into the harbor casually turned her head towards open water, as if there was something interesting there.
"She wants to." One grinned, lifting a hand to push his cheek up against it. They watched the two for a few moments longer before they both moved out of sight, away from the ferrywoman, the prying eyes of others. Neither spoke for the longest time, before the passive one released words quietly, so quietly.
"...you weren't thinking about Three, were you."
Ivory eyes slid shut, a frown crossing them.
...jingle...jingle...
"Admit it. Just admit it."
"I'll do no such thing." He snapped back, the tone of the instrument growing harsher with each syllable.
"Why, because you don't want to show me how similar you and I really are?" Two murmured, his words not rising above an unassertive whisper, his own eyes closing calmly. " You don't want to admit that you hate our life as much as I do?"
A fuse seemed to flicker in the shorter waltz as his eyes sprang open, his wings flinging themselves into a defensive position and flipping the bell into an open palm, clenching his fist around it. "Don't you say another word, Dyuetto. Not another fucking word." He turned on a heel and promptly walked back into the room. The once robed form shook his head a bit, a bit of a laugh backing his voice.
"And what would you do if I did say something else, Hitotsu? Hit me? Like it would change anything. I'd of still said what you don't want to hear."
"Shut up."
"That you, like me, like every other wretched creature who walks this soil cursed with our appearance-"
"Shut. Up!"
"-wish to be just."
"Don-"
"Like."
"Two!"
"Them."
Explosion. One growled deeply, something that didn't even look possible for his frame, crossing the room in strides to large to be his own, grabbing his brother around the from of his tunic and dragging his face down to his level, snarling in his face. "I fucking told you not to say it!"
"You can't deny the truth, Hito. Not from me, not for so long. For years and years I've asked you the same question, and it's always got me nothing but a kick in the teeth." He shook his head, a few strands of distraught curls hung in his face, white topaz eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not backing down. I'm not. Your my brother for Gaia's sakes, your supposed to be able to tell me anything!"
"That bond was destroyed a long time ago, Dyuetto, a long time ago!" Two almost winced at that, and the more aggressive of the two seemed about ready to go on, but a sudden rapping upon the door quieted and separated them instantly.
"Waltz's, you do have a strict curfew hour that the Queen would love to hear you've broken..." The Pluto Knight Captain's voice resonated through the heavy door and across the walls- geez he had a loud voice.
The pacifist smiled brightly, as if none of the proceeding events had ever taken place, nodding enthusiastically at the door. "I remember now sir, thank you for reminding us!" They both stood silently until they heard heavy footsteps clank away. Two's smiling eyes glanced up at One, wordless for a moment, before the latter's gruff voice spoke.
"Brown noser."
"This brown noser is the only thing keeping us in the clear, thank you very much." He retorted, matter of faculty. "Your no help with your constant insults."
"They deserve it."
He sighed at a length, moving to the bed he had claimed his. "Let's just sleep, shall we? It's been years since I've slept in a real bed, I think I'll enjoy it immensely." Picking up and securing his hat satisfactorily about his head and horns, hair completely hidden expertly, he slid under blankets, allowing an almost relived sigh. Glancing back at his brother's silhouette in the doorway of the balcony, he raised a steady brow. "I take it your not taking our new friends' advice?"
"I couldn't sleep here if I tried. That blonde freak's trying to kill me, I swear it."
Two chuckled sleepily. "Your growing paranoid, brother of mine."
His veranda dwelling confidante gave a small laugh himself, leaning against the barrier again, holding the little golden bell over the edge. "Better safe than sorry. 'Night, Dyuetto."
"Good Night, Hito... remember, by this time tomorrow, we'll have Mittsu to bid sweet dreams to."
A wry smile crossed One's expression as he nodded. "Yeah, sure, Dyuetto."
The torch lights from the city danced across the water, bathing all in stubborn golden glow, much to the Waltz's obvious discomfort. Small wings lightly traced the warm air as ivory orbs silently gazed upon the lights, the buildings, the little tarnished bell he held loosely in outstretched hand, pretty little red ribbon looped around his fingers. His arm twitched, and the bell rang out a lamentable testament to the city beyond.
...jingle...jingle...
†
The morning's fog blanketed the grand kingdom of Alexandria, a stubborn marine layer that refused to lift, even as the majestic Red Rose II boarded passengers, loaded equipment and supplies. At a fairly quick pace, borrowed Lindblum soldiers, femme Alexandrian regiment and choice members of the often underrated Knights of Pluto went about preparing the mighty airship for liftoff, the key travelers gathering around specific meeting place so wisely chosen before preparations for the rescue began.
On the dock of the ship, very close to the boarding ramps, stood the ragtag rabble of adventurers, including a sober faced Zidane Tribal beside a refreshed Garnet Till Alexandros, audacious appearing Eiko Carol, anxious Freya Crescent and apprehensive Adelbert Steiner, all curiously dressed in familiar traveling attire- blue vests, orange spandex and yellow overalls to respective individual. And in the midst of it all, a very out of place looking pair of Waltzes.
"Alright, so, game plan." Zidane started, his tail dancing restlessly back and forth across the planks of the deck. "The one with the Mace comes with me, Dagger n' Rusty to the cabin, so he can direct us on where we're goin'." Teal eyes swept the surprised looking Two as he raised a blonde brow. "You're staying with Eiko and Freya so they can keep an eye on you. You got a problem with that?"
"I- I, er..." He bit his lip a little bit, nervous eyes darting to his brother- who simply shrugged.
"Good enough."
"B-but Hito-!" The taller waltz began.
"Trust me." Interjected One smoothly, grinning slyly up at him. "You'll be fine. Just keep your nose brown." He strode to keep up with his appointed group, who had already left for the cabin. Two held out a hand as if to catch him, but the deck made a slight jump as the engines began pumping steam into the turbines, propellers overhead beginning to whirl as the ship started to lift off. Unable to keep up with the movement, the waltz stumbled a bit, almost fell, but was steadied by a stable, white furred hand.
"Apparently, you haven't ridden too many airships."
The pacifist nodded slightly, giving an almost dissonance tone to his short lived laugh. "Not too many, no. Thank you..." He couldn't help his eyes from trailing after his brother, his hands coming together before him to wring themselves gently. Oh how he hoped he wouldn't say anything to stupid...
†
A/n: Holy crap! I left One alone with Steiner and Zidane! What the hell is wrong with me!