Chapter 8: Walking the Wire
"And all the roads we have to walk are winding And all the lights that lead us there are blinding There are many things that I Would like to say to you but I don't know how Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me And after all, you're my wonderwall." I am Quietly singing outside the Shepherds Garrison waiting for Olivia so we can go into town and explore together. Ridley was sitting next to me as I brush her fur. I was sitting on a bench in near the town center. You can hear the noises of the city life faintly in the background. It was better than getting teased nonstop for most of the march home. Lissa was especially eager to.
"Why don't you ask Olivia to Shut Up and Dance with you?!" That was the line I remember for some unholy reason. It's funny but dumb at the same time. After the teasing ended with Chrom dragging Lissa away. Robin then pushed Olivia to stand by my side and walked off. It was awkward until I broke the ice and then everything flowed naturally. We talked about or pasts and other topics. I hated telling her the fake backstory I had but I couldn't stop my mouth from talking.
She grew up in an orphanage which was run by a very kind and good man. It was this man that got Olivia into dancing. He paid for lessons and everything because he knew she had talent and that it was her escape. He got ill and passed away so the orphanage went up for sale. It was bought by a man who appeared to be a good man too. She was spotted dancing by him and was asked to do shows to raise money for necessities.
Around the age of fifteen she wondered why she hadn't been adopted yet. Basilio had men investigating the orphanage because they believed that the man running it was a wanted criminal. He wasn't, but they found out numerous things. He stopped any adoption papers for Olivia and was using her to make money, half went into his pocket and the other half went to the orphanage. A half honest man. He was sent to prison and Olivia was crushed. Basilio went to make sure the process of transferring the orphanage into an honest caretaker's hands went smoothly. While he was there he heard everything that had happened to her and decided to take care of her. The rest of it was dancing and basically becoming a princess of Ferox but that's history now. It was really nice to hear her backstory and why she was with Basilio. Talking with her felt so natural.
"Jordan?" A voice brought me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Olivia walking towards. She was wearing a mainly green sundress with it fading into white. She let her hair down but kept the headband in. 'When I fall, I fall hard.' I smile at her. 'She is so damn pretty.' "You're staring." She said meekly, blushing up a storm.
"Can't help the fact that you are beautiful." I say with a smile. I stood up and walked over to her. She squeaked when I said that. It was cute.
"Th…Thank you." She said shyly. She stooped down to pet Ridley. Ridley was treating her like any other person but stood closer to me when we were walking together. She moved her head into Olivia's hand. Olivia giggled and pet her more.
"I hope you don't mind that I have to run an errand first. My sister asked me to see if there was an Elthunder tome at this bookshop Sumia recommended to her." I tell her.
"That's fine. I would have asked if we could find one anyway." She responded, looking at me with a smile. I nod.
"Let's get going. We might get lost a couple times, just letting you know." I laugh that last part. She giggles. I grab her hand as we walk towards the market distract, Ridley on our tail. It was a busy Monday. Stalls were up everywhere and shops were full of people. The streets we're crowded as we weaved our way through the people. The book shop was call Tuckson's Book Trade and Robin said it was located near a pub and a small fountain. Great directions sis.
Well they worked as I found the store relatively quickly. A bell rang as we walked in. it wasn't very big but the shelves were all full and there were books scattered everywhere. 'This guy needs to relocate to a bigger place.' I think as Olivia walks away to a shelf with fantasy books. No tomes were in sight so I went to the empty service desk. There was a bell on the desk next to more books. I ding it.
"Coming." A female voice called out. A girl a year or two younger than myself walked out. Her black hair flowed freely but she had a bow in her hair. She looked me over and smirked. "Welcome to Tuckson's Book Trade, home to every book in Ylisse. How may I help you today?" she said it in a sultry voice implying there was something she liked, or more likely me. I'll never get use to women talk about me or checking me out.
"Hi, do you have any Elthunder tomes for sale, and if not do you know any other places that might have some?" I ask keeping my voice steady. He sultry smile left for a contemplative look.
"Hmm.. I don't think so. In Ylisstol there are many places you can buy those. It might be on the other edge of town." She shrugged and smiled.
"Thank you. I'll have to tell my sister that." I say making small talk.
"Anything else you looking for?" she asked returning to the seductive smile. I scratch my head and look back. Olivia was buried in a book pile looking through each one. I smile and look back at the clerk.
"Whatever she wants, let me pay for it." I say before walking over to Olivia. The clerk made an unhappy grunt but said nothing. Olivia was to occupied to notice me. "See anything you like?" She jumped a little but noticed it was me. She then glared at me.
"You shouldn't sneak up on me like that." She said. I snicker.
"Sorry." She lost the glare and turned back to the book.
"This one is interesting. It's about a group of six who are trying to infiltrate a secure prison to save a man who created a drug that can affect certain people's special abilities. It's dark but something grabbed me." She said wistfully. I think I read a book like that back on earth, I remember that it was really good.
"Do you want it?" I ask.
"I can come back and get it later, it's not a big deal." She responded. I lightly close and take the book out of her hands. I walk over to the counter with her on my tail. "Jordan… you… you really don't have to." I look back at her, smirk, and shrug. I place the book on the counter. The clerk looked at me then the book.
"That'll be 10 gold." She said, loosing friendliness. I pull out ten from my vest pocket and place it on the counter. "Thank you. Come again."
"Thank you." I say back with a wave as we walk out. She held the book close to her chest looking at the ground. Ridley popped up from the shad of a nearby tree and bounded over to us.
"You didn't have to get me the book." Olivia said quietly.
"I know. What's wrong with wanting to?" I ask.
"I don't want you to waste your money on something like this for me." She was very adamant about this. I sigh and turn her so she's facing me. I grab one of her hands with one of my own.
"Olivia…" I start. She looks up and I know realize how much I want to kiss her. I've never kissed anyone or really wanted to until right now. It feels to fast so I have to hold myself back. I take my eyes of her lips, which they subconsciously moved down to them, and look in her eyes. "Me doing anything for, or with you will never be a waste." She started blushing now and quickly looked down. She then frowned.
"Do you own anything other than the outfit you are wearing?" she asked and with that the moment was gone. In all honesty I didn't own any other clothes that these and the extra pair in my chest in my room.
"I have one extra pair of clothes in my room but I had to leave a lot of my stuff running away from a lot of bandits." I laugh at the fake but real memory. I could see it in my mind but I knew I didn't do that at all. Damn it you two back stories. She shook her head and started pulling me down the street.
"We'll find you some more clothes. That is not an option." She ordered. I laugh and caught up with her. Our hands we're still intertwined and overall this was perfect.
It was night time and I had at least had three bags full of clothes. I believe Olivia picked out clothes that she liked on me more than I would have liked on me but she had good style so it's cool. We're walking back to the Barracks, hand in hand with Ridley discreetly trying to push us apart. Jealous dog. It was probably the best date I have ever been on but I've only went on three before coming here so I don't have a huge opinion on dates. I was humming a tune as Olivia was telling a story about Lon'qu and his woman phobia. He didn't grab lunch when there was a woman serving in the castle which was funny but sexist. Luckily everyone in castle Ferox knows and doesn't seem to mind that much.
We walked until we were standing in front of the door. I put my bags down and leaned them against my legs. Olivia turned towards me. "I thought the woman was supposed to by the bags full of clothes not the man." She lightly teased. I chuckle.
"Well I don't have a full trunk like you do." I respond. She giggles. She looked so perfect standing there with the candle and the moon illuminating her. A piece of hair had fell onto her face. Being the gentleman that I am, I tucked it behind her ear but left my hand there. She looked up at me with an unreadable expression. "Thank you for coming with me, I had… it was the… I had a great time because you were there." I rushed out the last part because I stopped and started twice. She blushed but giggled some more.
"I'm glad you invited me to come with you. I wouldn't have gone otherwise." She said. we just stared at each other probably knowing what we should do next but neither if us making the move. I was about to move my hand away when a voice in my head yelled at me. 'Damnit just kiss her you pussy.' With that I lightly lifted her chin and moved down to capture her lips for my own. She squeaked but melted into it.
Movies taught me everything I know about kissing besides how it feels. They never convey that in the right way because this… this was something special. The warmth of her lips on mine and the taste too was going to be addictive. She must have put on some lip gloss or something because I tasted cherry. I was truly locked out of heaven, except it was with kissing not sex. It wasn't passionate, but it wasn't light either. It was deep, but not to deep. It was perfect. We parted after a good amount of time. She was blushing like crazy but smiling. I didn't know what to do, so I reciprocated the smile.
"That was my first kiss. And I have no clue if I did good or if I…" she started but I interrupted her with another kiss. A couple seconds pass before I pull back.
"Same here so don't worry. We will get better with practice." I say with a smirk. She then blushed hard.
"So does… I mean does… do you… you sure?" She finally asked. I got the hidden meaning behind it. My smirk fell into a somber smile.
"Being with you won't be something I regret like I said earlier. Of course I'm sure." I pull her in with one arm and hold her close. She didn't squeak or jump, she just sighed contently and laid her head against my shoulder. I kiss her on the top of her head as we stand there content and happy.
_OWD_
Rumors spread like wildfires in the Shepherds. Donnel and Stahl had asked about it and were genuinely happy for me. The teasing didn't start until the day after. Lissa, Chrom, Vaike, Robin, and even Fredrick teased me. I forbid Chrom, Vaike, and Fredrick from teasing Olivia. Robin and Lissa did that enough already. The trip to the border was cheerier than it would have been if we didn't get together.
Maribelle was captured by Plegians and we were escorting the Exalt to a "peaceful meeting" with the Mad King Gangrel. This won't be peaceful at all and I told Robin that. She knows that and has a plan ready for it.
We had marched for a day and a half now, during that time I walked with Robin and talked about all sorts of things. Chrom wanted to try his hand at throwing knives, it ended up with a knife imbedded in Vaike's hand and Chrom not being allowed to touch another one of my knives again. Donnel and I talked about our separate lives, he told me about the farm and his mother, while I told him half truths about my sisters and my home life. I trained with Fredrick and Sully and practiced archery with Virion. Sumia asked about what things I like and such. Apparently Chrom and I are alike so… you can put two and two together. I had a nice conversation with Emmeryn which I had to end early because it hurt knowing her fate, and the fact that I shouldn't change it. But the best time I had on the trip was walking, hand in hand, with Olivia, and playing fetch with Ridley. Kissing her a lot was also a big plus. It was a moment I want a picture of, or several pictures. Not the kissing, the handholding and such.
We were approaching the cliffs and they were lined with Plegian Soldiers. I was walking with Chrom and company up front. Olivia was behind me, holding onto my new gray vest. We walked towards the two people in charge of the whole country and kidnapping scheme. Gangrel and Aversa.
Gangrel had a cheap looking crown on his head to hold that disgusting mop of red hair. He had a yellow cape on with black pants and a black shirt. He had some ugly ass shoes on, that pointed at the toe. The most disturbing thing about him was that he truly had gross gray skin. He really needed some skin cream or something. He was around 5'9" and he was full of spite.
Aversa was wearing practically nothing. Her cape was the most covering thing on her body. She had black stockings on which I never noticed in game and heels too. Her arms were covered up but not her chest… why? I don't get women. She was 5'9" in heels and had a more brown, gray skin tone. Her hair was white as snow and heavily contrasted with her black clothing.
Gangrel saw us and laughed. Aversa scanned over us, as if she was looking for something. I turned back to Gangrel as he began to speak.
"What's this, then? The exalt herself, in all her radiance? I fear I must shield my eyes! Bwa ha ha ha!" he said, laughing at the end. He had a higher pitched voice than I would have thought. He's like a rat, a disfigured rat. Emmeryn stepped forward and spoke out to him.
"King Gangrel, I've come for the truth of this unfortunate incident between us."
"The truth? I can give you the truth." Aversa spat at her. Even with venom in her voice, you could tell her voice was always sensual.
"Perhaps milady might first share her name?" Emmeryn asked.
"You may call me Aversa." She answered after a while. I noticed she was always not looking at her but out in the crowd of Shepherds and guards, still scanning.
"Very well, Aversa. Is Maribelle unharmed?" Gangrel answered her this time.
"Who? Oh yes, that little blonde brat. See for yourself." He pointed up the cliff towards a soldier holding a struggling Maribelle.
"Unhand me, you gutter-born troglodyte!" She shouts and I wonder why we didn't hear her earlier. Olivia squeezed the back of my vest. I move one of my arms around and hold her against my back as protection and I hope comfort. This was like the night we met so she was more than worried.
"Maribelle!" Lissa Shrieked besides me making me lose all hearing in my left ear… figuratively. Maribelle stopped struggling and looked down the cliff side.
"Lissa? Darling, is that you?" Maribelle asked loudly.
"This girl crossed the Plegian border without our consent. And what's more... She wounded the brave Plegian soldiers who sought only to escort her safely home." Aversa faked the hurt in her voice still scanning the crowd. I cough bullshit and got a look from Robin and a smack on the shoulder from Olivia.
"LIES! You speak nothing but lies, hag! Did they not teach the meaning of the word "truth" in wretched-crone school?!" Maribelle shouts at Aversa. Aversa didn't answer. Reason being was that she found what or who she was looking for. Me. She cocked her head and stared at me. I wonder if… probably. Aversa walked over to Gangrel and whispered something in his ear. Gangrel looked out and found me. He then laughed his ass off. Aversa whispered in his ear again. He nodded and continued on like nothing happened.
"Such a violent temper speaks to her guilt. This will call for a weighty punishment. And if she were to later confess to being an…" I tuned him out as Robin poked me.
"Do you know why that happened?" she whispered in my ear. I lean over to whisper in her ear.
"I might know but it's unlikely." I stop there but realize she was going to ask what it was. I have to interrupt that train of thought. "But I do know one thing, I might be a bigger target now."
"There is no might about it." She said ignoring my first sentence.
"Does that mean I get my own bodyguard?" I try and lighten the mood.
"You want a Fredrick following you?" Robin asked me. I shudder.
"Gods no." I say.
"You… you haven't been to Plegia before so why or how would they know you enough to put a target on you." Olivia quietly asked. Robin nods to that. In my mind I was sweating bullets. 'Please tell me I have a good lie for this.' Usually memories would replay back in my mind of backstory 2 but I was drawing a blank. I told them I might have an idea but that was with backstory 1 and I wasn't ready to tell them that yet. I remember the letter. 'The sooner you tell them that you are from a different world the more likely they will except you.' They were both waiting for an answer that I didn't have.
"You black hearted devil!" Chrom shouts, bringing us back to the start of a war.
"Control your dog, my dear, before he gets someone hurt." Gangrel slyly says smirking.
"Isn't that what you want." I mutter quietly, so only Robin and Olivia hear.
"What was that you said there, Mr. Vest?" Gangrel calls me out. everyone turns towards me and I gulp.
"Nothi…" I cut my self-off. What would happen if I just call his ass out right now? "I said isn't that what you want. A bloody war!" It went quiet everyone stared at me while I grew a pair of balls and stared down a mad king. His expression went from surprise to amusement and then he laughed hysterically.
"Now that everyone knows my Winter Fest list might as well add my birthday list in there too. Give me the Fire Emblem or the girl dies, then you all die." He laughs at the end of that.
"Why?" Emmeryn asks shocked.
"To make my single dream come true. The grisly end of all Ylisseans! Your father rampaged our homes and killed our people on his damned crusades. Now I want some sweet sweet revenge with a cherry on top. Soldiers get the Emblem and kill them all. Kill them all! Bwa ha ha ha!" He then ran like a f'ing coward. A soldier ran at Emmeryn but Chrom intervened and slashed him across the chest, killing him. Robin perked up and turned into commander mode, telling us what to do and where to go.
"Chrom, take Fredrick and rush up the mountain. Sully, Stahl Follow. Sumia come with me, we'll flank them with Jordan, Olivia, and Virion. Donnel stay near Lissa. Vaike and Miriel, stay near them but if you see an opening for an easy kill, don't hesitate. Lon'Qu you will stay by them and protect them. Everyone understand?" She asks us. A group yes gets her on another ramble again.
"We careful because they have wyvern riders and dark mages. Make sure that you know what you are fighting. Leave the wyvern riders to the mages and archers. The sword wielders should have… what the hell is going on up there?" She is looking up the mountain, we all follow to see Ricken pushing Aversa back with wind magic, grabbing Maribelle's hand and rushing out of there. He runs to a space where he is out of the way of mage range. "Chrom, I thought you told him to not come with us?"
"I did." He said after a second. We stood there watching till Robin snapped at us.
"Guys! Guys!" We snap to attention. "Stick to the plan, Chrom save him." We stared at her for a while. She sighed. "And go." With that we scrambled away. Virion ran behind Olivia and myself. Sumia then rushed by us with Robin on her Pegasus. They swerved for the dark mage in the fortress. That left us with the barbarian. He ran at us with his axe held high. I threw a knife to start us off. He dodged easily, and I pulled out my sword. Virion shot him with an arrow in the shoulder, that slowed him down. I reached him and knocked him out with a hit to his temple.
"Why did you not go for the kill?" Virion asked. I ignore him and rush up the mountain with Olivia by my side. I'm not here for a morality check. If I didn't have to kill I won't. A mage and a barbarian were up to meet us. The mage shot us with a thunder ball. Olivia danced to the left while I jump to the right. The barbarian went straight at Olivia. She wasn't strong at all which scared me. Wings flapping and a thunder ball to the left dispersed my fear, so I could focus on the mage.
He shot another thunder ball at me and I jumped left and rushed him. I went for a downward slash, but he dodged that. Quickly I pull out a knife and threw it at where he was going to land. It hit him in his shoulder and an arrow hit him in the chest. I look over to find the barbarian with a chest full of lightning. I release a loud, grateful sigh as virion ran at my side.
"We have some lovely ladies with some amazing strength, don't we?" he asked me with a smirk. I nod and look to the side. Chrom and Fredrick were mowing anything in their path. Sully and Stahl we're a perfect tandem as they took out a myrmidon and a dark mage. A barbarian split of to attack Lissa and co. Lon'qu stepped in front and sliced him down. Donnel was almost there but he was to slow. Three wyverns left along with a barbarian and a myrmidon. We were almost done.
"Jordan watch out." Olivia shrieked. Robin tackled me to the floor as a ball of dark energy flew where my body would have been. Reinforcements, how the hell did I forget that. A spear and arrow sunk into something and I heard the sound of something hit the floor. Robin looked at me with worry and anger.
"Are you alright?" she said with big eyes. Her voice quivered.
"Yea…" I took a second to recollect myself. "Thank you." She nodded and pushed herself up. She offered me a hand. I accepted it and was pulled up. I got barreled into by Olivia and she wrapped me in a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around her once I heard sniffled. Sumia, Robin, and Virion took it as their que to leave.
Olivia let go after a minute and looked up at me. "I'm glad your okay. I wish I could have done something other than yell. I feel so useless." I wrap her in another hug and kiss the top of her forehead.
"You're not useless. Your screaming alerted me and Robin. Thank you." I say quietly running my hand through her hair. She rested her head against my chest. We stood there not talking or moving. Standing in piece, ignoring the battle and bloodshed around us. I could hear the metallic clangs dying down. I looked out towards Plegia thinking of how the war would change me. I will have to kill, I didn't like doing it or didn't want to do it but to keep the people I care for safe I have to. To keep her safe. That means letting Emmeryn become a mayrt-
"This doesn't seem like the time or place to have a nice romantic moment brother." Robin said making me jump and scaring Olivia who jumped back about thirty feet. Robin just smirked while Lissa laughed and Maribelle was appalled.
"That is highly inappropriate on a battlefield, a relationship in war… gods I couldn't think of it." She scoffed. I shrug and smile.
"Glad to see your okay." Hiding the sarcasm. She blinked twice then nodded.
"Thank you for the rescue, even though you had nothing to do with the actual rescue. Thank you all the same." Nice back-handed compliment. A hand intertwined itself with mine and dragged me towards them. Robin walked away to find Chrom or something. Lissa waited for Olivia and myself and where ever Lissa went Maribelle was there too. So the four of us walked back to the convoy.
Emmeryn was talking with Chrom and Fredrick. "Don't blame yourself Chrom. You were attacked first." Chrom nodded and looked out at us. He saw me and scowled. He waved his hand beckoning me over. I gave Olivia's hand a squeeze, let go, and walked over towards him. Fredrick looked upset and Chrom furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why did you yell at Gangrel? He didn't hear you at all. He was clearly antagonizing you." Chrom demanded an answer out of me. I sigh and run a hand through my hair.
"We we're going to fight sooner or later. All I did was speed up the process. You know that." I say getting angrier than I meant to. He still looked angry but Emmeryn put a hand on his shoulder.
"He is right Chrom. It was only a wish to make piece with them right now. We must go back to Ylisstol like Fredrick said and discuss what happens next." She said trying to calm him down.
"Assasins." I quietly mutter. No one heard, I hope. Chrom nodded and looked back at me. He shook his head and patted me on the shoulder awkwardly. I look at his hand on my shoulder then at him and snicker. "Thanks for the scolding father." I say. He blushes and retracts his hand like I'm made of fire. Emmeryn giggles and eyes me before leaving. I pat Chrom on the shoulder, not awkwardly, before walking towards the caravan. I see Olivia talking with Maribelle, Lissa, Robin, and Sumia. Donnel was talking to Lon'qu and Stahl. The soldiers were preparing the stuff for our march home.
'I almost was forced into a corner about my past. It also looks like Grima Robin found our about me in the past… future… whatever, but she most likely knows. And she will either kill me or use that against me then kill me. Option two would make for a better story and this is a game so I'm saying option two. I know I have to tell them and it sounds like it works out in the future… wait.' I pull out the letter from me and reread it. It only says that the future kids know and not my future wife and friends. '…shit. So I have no clue on how they will react. I believe I'm not staying here forever so I will lose them one way or another. Just pull the old "I will separate myself from everyone, so it doesn't hurt them" routine. That "always" works.' I see Olivia walking towards me with Ridley next to her. She looks happy and that makes me happy. 'I'll worry about that later.' I pocket the letter and walk over to her and enjoy what I couldn't on earth.
AN: Chapter eight is in the books. Finals week is upcoming for me and I am changing jobs so that hopefully means faster chapter updates. Anyway it's all but confirmed on the main paring of Jordan x Olivia. I don't think Olivia has a backstory, so I hoped to make up one that made sense. I hope that was cute and fluffy enough for you with a mix of war at the end. Major things will be going down in the next couple of chapters. That much i have planned. Next up on toda'ys agenda is two questions i have for you amazing readers. Will anyone be willing to draw or design a cover? I don't like the plain three and I can't draw to save my life. If anyone is interested in that please PM me. Second question: would anyone like a side story of other characters relationships and little stuff like that? I had that idea when i was thinking about Olivia being bombarded with questions from Robin and Sumia after the big date. I think it would be funny and a little breather from first person. leave a review if you think that would be a good idea. That's all I got right now, so I will see you next time.
PS: I own jack shit besides my OC. Just in case you didn't know.
