2: A Matter of Luck
Setzer anchored the airship outside Mobliz and descended to the sounds of squeals and laughter. Ten children appeared from the collection of broken houses at a dead run as Setzer exited the airship. His lips twitched in a brief smile, but he didn't change his pace. The children - Cera, Robbie, Peter, Tyrian, Nate, Eddie, Samuel, Tanner, Will, and Alyxis - filed around him in a giggling mass of smiling faces as they grabbed at his hands, legs, and attention. Begging him to play, to carry them on his shoulders, to take them for a ride, to tell them a story, and a myriad of other adventures that could only be imagined in the minds of young children raised by a pure heart.
Setzer surrendered to a chuckle as he picked up Cera and Tyrian, blonde and brunette respectively, and proceeded forward to the house where he knew Terra would be dutifully guiding the older children's studies. Robbie and Nate fought for the honor of opening the door, leaving the honor up for grabs for Peter as Eddie, Samuel, Tanner, Will, and Alyxis danced around in the space directly behind.
"Terra," Setzer called between squeals and imploring entreaties to play. "Terra, would you be good enough to rescue me?"
The group of giggling children and chuckling adult made their way down the stairs of the main building, reaching the foot of those stairs just as Terra appeared through the doorway in the left section of the building. She smiled and moved forward, gesturing to the children to come away and "leave the poor man some room to breathe". The girls and boys squealed with laughter, giving him hugs and promises before scampering away to games of the imagination. Setzer gave Cera and Tyrian each a kiss on the cheek before setting them on the floor and tousling their hair. Then he sent them on their way with a pat on the behind.
Terra watched the girls disappear up the stairs with a smile. Then she focused those violet eyes on Setzer. "Hello, Setzer. I'm glad you came again."
"Don't tell me you're lonely amidst these children."
Terra's violet gaze lowered to the floor. She picked at a fingernail. "No. I… I just miss the faces of my friends."
Setzer had begun to notice the loneliness seemed to darken her normally bright eyes on a more continual basis. "I'll do my best to visit more often," he promised.
Her timid smile softened the dark light in her eyes as she raised her gaze to meet his. "Thank you, Setzer. I love it when you and the others stop by."
Setzer gauged her expression for a moment before gesturing for the stairs. "Would you care for a walk?"
"Let me tell the children." Terra made her way back to the door, opened it enough to tell the studious pupils inside that they had permission to play, and then made her way back to Setzer's side.
Setzer examined her profile as they ascended the stairs. "You do seem troubled, Terra. Are you certain everything is all right?"
"I…" Terra bit her lower lip as she sent him a sidelong glance. "I've been having these bad dreams the past couple nights. M-Maybe that's all…?"
"Bad dreams? Such as?"
Terra tucked a stray lock of pale green hair behind an ear. Then she picked at another fingernail. "Sometimes I have dreams that I can fly again. Like I could before Kefka and the Statues were defeated. Sometimes I… I see the faces and bodies of all the people I k-killed when controlled by the Empire." She sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks before continuing. "Sometimes I see the children being t-taken away by a man in black. I… I don't understand what it c-could mean."
Setzer opened the door to the main part of the house and ushered her past, then he tightly closed the door behind them. He placed an arm protectively about her shoulders. "Dreams can't hurt you, Terra, and they rarely come true. Perhaps you've lived the reclusive life here too long? Perhaps you need to consider rejoining the rest of us?"
Terra lifted her gaze to meet his. "But this is our home. We've lived here for nearly 3 years. I can't ask them to leave."
Setzer smiled. "They'd live anywhere you do, Terra. You're their new mother. Their new feeling of security and safety." He gave her shoulders another squeeze. "At least give it some thought. I know the others wouldn't hesitate to welcome you."
"Alright. I'll talk to Duane and Katarin and the others." She sent him a sidelong glance as they made their way out into the early afternoon sun. "You seem different somehow, Setzer."
Setzer chuckled, lowering his arm from her shoulders. "In what way?"
"I'm not sure. A little… happier? Less… gloomy?"
"Gloomy?" He met her eyes with a raised eyebrow. "I leave that particular expression for Shadow."
Terra's slight smile actually twinkled in her eyes. "Alright, so gloomy isn't the right word. You still seem different."
Setzer smirked. "I'll tell you when you're older."
Terra's eyes darkened. "I'm not a child," she told him in a troubled voice. She looked away. "Really. I'm not."
Setzer noticed her entire persona changed to an almost inward examination. "No, I suppose you aren't. To me, however, you will forever be the naïve Terra from our adventures." He touched her cheek and drew her attention. "There is nothing wrong with being seen as naïve or innocent, Terra. It is an entrancing aspect of your person that we wouldn't want taken away."
Terra looked away again, not speaking the statement or confusing paradox still mirrored in her eyes. Instead, she sighed and directed her gaze to the children ahead of the duo. The children played a game of tag, and many of them eagerly beckoned for Terra and Setzer to join.
Terra glanced back toward Setzer. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to play with them? They love it when you do."
"Only if you promise to bring them aboard the Falcon this evening for dinner."
"You know they'll want to put on a performance."
"You know I love it when they do."
Terra allowed a slight smile. Then she pulled at the sleeve of his coat to draw him toward the children and their game, volunteering Setzer to be 'It'. The children squealed with glee and scattered.
» § «
Setzer swirled the wine in his glass as the children participated in a loud and all-consuming production of the final battle with Kefka. Terra watched the rambunctious collection of 6, 8, and 9 year olds with a smile while curled up on the couch to the left of his chair. Setzer tapped the arm in a continuous rhythm as he absently watched the production. Understandably. Surprisingly. With a certain amount of uncontrollable predictability. He had hoped the time with Terra and the children would have filled his apparent craving for company. Setzer knew, though, he had a weak spot for adventure and fun. Marée encompassed both. Intoxicating and consuming in a way he'd missed since Darryl's death.
"Setzer? What's the matter?"
Setzer's frown disappeared as he changed his minutely surprised expression to Terra's face. "Pardon?"
Terra spared a quick glance to the children, noticed they were enthralled with the killing of the Atma Weapon - which, of course, had been defeated before the entry into Kefka's Tower, but what did children care of details? - and then moved her eyes back to Setzer. "I've never seen that look on your face before, Setzer. What's wrong?"
Setzer smiled. "Nothing, Terra. I have embroiled myself in a wee bit of a lively adventure that I hadn't expected. Lady Luck took me by surprise."
Terra's eyes showed a glint of reluctance. "Are you sure I can't help? Talking helps, doesn't it?"
Setzer moved his eyes to his glass of wine as it lapped the sides of the blue-tinted glass. Aquamarine blue… He cleared his throat and looked to the children's newly begun battle with the first tier of the Statues. "I'm fine, Terra. Adventure is old hat to me, and the unexpected is welcome. You know that."
Terra sighed with a slight nod, returning her attention to the children, but only partly. Every so often she would send Setzer a stealthy glance to make sure the frown hadn't returned. So Setzer set aside the possibilities and decided to let the cards fall the way they would. He had planned a stop at Thamasa by weeks end to pick up some supplies for Locke and Celes' wedding. If she was there, she was there. If she wasn't, she wasn't. It was all a matter of luck.
"Have you any message for Strago or Relm?" Setzer asked Terra suddenly. "I'm off to Thamasa in a few days time to gather supplies for Locke and Celes." He met her gaze. "Anything to be transported?"
"Just some drawings and stories the older ones have done for Relm. If you don't mind?"
"Of course not. I'll be sure to get them from you tomorrow before I set off for Figaro."
"Figaro?"
He took a sip of wine as he watched Terra's cheeks slightly flush. "Yes. Did you have a message for Edgar?"
She blushed a deeper shade of rose as she lowered her eyes to her fingers. She picked at them, as usual. "No… Yes. Tell him… Tell him 'thank you' for the flower, but I can't come to the party. I wouldn't want to leave the children alone."
Setzer raised an eyebrow. "Alone? Terra, Duane and Katarin would be happy to watch them while you spend some time with your friends."
"I… I know, but… Just tell him 'thank you'."
"Very well, Terra. I'll relay the message, but he'll be disappointed. He hasn't seen you for ages." Setzer watched her reaction to the news with interest. "Shall I tell him you miss him? That you wish you could be there?"
"N-No. J-Just tell him--"
"'Thank you'. Yes. I know." Setzer hid a smile behind another sip of wine. Then the final battle with Kefka began and his attention was distracted between sword fights and aquamarine eyes.
