Toni lighted a cigarette and went out on the balcony to get some air. Night had fallen, the dark sky and the few lights in the neighborhood made the infinite stars of the firmament stand out.
Toni looked up and her eyes started to shine due to the reflex of those wonderful celestial bodies.
The girl inhaled her cigarette and then slowly exhaled the smoke creating a little cloud.
Cletus was a little further away, his eyes fixed on the sky and a thoughtful look. He still had a few patches on his face and he had kept his white suit, thought it was ripped in multiple points.
-It's really true that the sky at night is really fascinating- suddenly exclaimed Toni.
Cletus had to look at her.
The young girl's thick unleashed hair caressed her hips, her big and dark eyes lost in in the vastness of the sky.
Then she put her cigarette out and moved closer to him.
-Cletus, right?- she asked.
-Yes- he answered atonic.
-I heard you mentioned by Goal-
He raised his eyebrows.
-I knew Rufus' story but I had no idea he had two twins- she continued.
-We are not exactly…brothers- he corrected her.
She stared at him.
-Aren't you?- asked the young girl.
But he looked away and didn't answer.
-You know, I've known Rufus since I was born- Toni hanged out of the ledge, scrutinizing among the buildings with her gaze.
-I'm two years younger than you, yet he and I were always together up to no good- she continued.
Cletus was actually torn whether to keep listening to her or walking away, but…for some weird reason he decided to stay.
-we once tried to live together- said Toni while playing with a lock of her hair –But it didn't work-
Then she looked again at Cletus.
-I wanted to reach Elysium too, but…- Toni smiled sadly –but Patrick managed to deprive me of this desire filling my head with lies and revenge-
Cletus remained silent, she was venting…why with him? He felt the situation becoming heavier and heavier.
-so I gradually started feeling anger and resentment toward that city- the girl closed her fists –Rufus however…he never stopped saying "I'm going to Elysium"-
Cletus tried to look away, he was starting to feel uncomfortable.
-orders from Patrick prevented me from telling him about the resistance- Toni raised her voice a little –and eventually I hated him- the girl closed her eyes.
What the hell was he supposed to tell her? Cletus' mind was totally freaking out, he had never been in such a situation.
He remembered very little about his childhood, his relationship with Goal had started only because Patrick and Ulysses wished so in order to unite their "creations", but the two never had anything in common besides being Elysians.
So the boy put a hand behind his head.
The girl slowly moved closer to him, Cletus tried to pull back but his shoulders touched the wall.
-I hated the idea he wanted to reach that place no matter what, risking his life daily- said Toni and instinctively she, who was shorter than Cletus, put her head on his chest sobbing.
Cletus shivered, was he supposed to comfort her? Should he leave her there? What was he supposed to do? Someone please told him what he was supposed to do!
But no one could…not anymore, not in that case, so he did the most natural thing his heart told him, he put a hand on the girl's head gently caressing it. He couldn't really find the words, though.
After a while Toni detached a bit, brushed her tears away with the sleeve and then, her eyes reddened, she looked at Cletus giving a hint of a smile.
-thanks- she said.
Cletus blushed looking at that smile and that expression, which perfectly showed the girl's frailty.
-Anyhow, the couple's life wasn't meant for us- she continued –he's like a kid who's never grown up- she giggled –a dreamer-
-So maybe he will be right for Goal- finally Cletus spoke –she's always on cloud nine- he concluded.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds, then burst into laugh.
Toni laughed heartily, it was good for her, she needed it, while Cletus had never laughed so spontaneously before.
Eventually they both moved closer to the ledge.
-Truth is I need someone serious, someone who keeps his feet on the ground- suddenly said Toni when she put herself together.
Then she looked at Cletus.
-Do you know anyone?- she asked.
He was startled.
-Who, me? I don't think so- he said, lightly embarrassed.
Toni giggled.
-You look so much alike, though you're so different- said the young girl scrutinizing him –what a wonderful mystery you are-
She had completely disarmed him with her words, during all the time spent on that terrace he hadn't managed to say a word, yet she seemed to have understood everything about him. She was undoubtedly the most charming woman he'd ever met. He was about to find courage when Doc arrived.
-Ah you're here- said the short man –Rufus woke up- he said with a smile –come!- and he came back inside.
Cletus looked at Toni, the girl sighed with relief and walked to the door.
But before she could go inside, Cletus grabbed her arm. The young girl turned toward the Elysian.
-Something wrong?- she asked.
-I…- words piled up, then he inhaled. And since he wasn't good at all with words, he pulled Toni and kissed her on the cheek.
The girl was taken by surprise, she was actually expecting for something different.
After a few seconds Toni stepped away and glanced at him.
-Yes, but you can breathe now- she said amused.
Cletus, who had hold his breath till then, exhaled, as if stopping breathing had given him courage.
He took an hand to his chest, his heart was beating fast, his hands were shaking, but he was immensely relieved as if a huge weight had been lifted off his chest.
From her point of view, she was extremely amused that that gesture had been so hard for him.
-Let's go say hello to my brother- he said then.
The young girl put a lock of her hair behind the ear, smiling sincerely, and they both walked into the house.
That night the stars in the sky kept shining intensely, witnesses to a new born love.
Five days after the fight with Machina, for two days Rufus had kept on coming to the hill, the only one in the entire town where a big green-leafed tree grew, he sat behind it and stare at the city.
He still had a few patches on his face and the wound still had to heal, but the pulsating idea to save Goal was always strong inside of him.
He didn't tell anyone about the dream he had while unconscious, he had so many questions he would have asked Patrick, first of all why he betrayed his city.
But now they had to find a way to reach them…yes, but how?
Since he woke up, he hadn't talk much with Toni and the others and it was still unclear to him why that jester Cletus was there with them, despise Doc explained to him the Elysian was the only reason they were still alive.
-Tsk…- Rufus smacked at that thought.
After he had been there in complete silence for a couple of hours, overwhelmed by who knows what thoughts, Toni came to him.
-I knew I'd find you here- exclaimed the girl when she was near him.
He nodded, thinking maybe one day he would have told here about his dream.
-So…what now?- she said, her hair down cradled by the wind.
But he didn't answer, he had too much on his mind.
-You know, sometimes I come back here alone- said Toni –in this place I hold a memory very dear to me- her voice was full of melancholy, but she was smiling.
At that point Rufus glanced at her and he noticed her hair, it had been a while since she had let it down. He always preferred it that way.
-You were right, I was afraid- she continued.
The two stared at each other intensely.
-But I don't want to run anymore- she concluded.
Rufus gave a hint of a smile.
-It's just now…I don't know what to do- he finally said.
-Let's go get Goal back- she encouraged him.
-Don't waste your breath, Toni, give up on him- Cletus had arrived, his back leaning against a wall.
Toni looked at him.
Rufus frowned.
-He would only stand in our way, what do you think he can do?- added Cletus, this time in a provocative way.
The young girl touched her face with a hand when she realized Cletus' game. Rufus turned his head a bit in order to glance at him.
-Poor Goal, that's what happens when you trust a waste-
Once he heard that, Rufus stood up immediately and glared at Cletus.
-Oh oh did my words finally wake you up?- said Cletus –but tell me, did you lose your voce besides your blood?- he continued with a malicious smile.
-Ok, I'm going to kill him- started off Rufus and was about to move closer to his brother when Toni grabbed his arm.
-No, Rufus, he's just provoking you- said his friend.
Then Cletus, who under Toni's command had changed his clothes wearing something more appropriate, pulled a bunch of keys out of his pocket.
Rufus frowned, confused.
-what do you say, are you going to stay here and overthink or are you coming with me to save Goal…- he paused –and this planet?- finally said the Elysian with a firm look on his face.
Rufus didn't understand.
-We fixed the shuttle Goal fell from- said Toni, smiling to her confused friend.
Then Rufus approached Cletus. The Elysian looked down on him, Rufus instead looked away sullenly.
-Yes. I'm coming with you- he said, not willing to admit that maybe Cletus had changed.
Toni moved closer to both of them.
-A truly bizarre pair- she said.
-We're not a pair- burst Rufus.
-It's just a way of saying…idiot- retorted Cletus.
The two stared at each other.
Then Rufus turned aside with his arms crossed.
-Jester- he snorted.
Cletus sighed, while Toni started laughing under her breath.
In her mind they were a truly bizarre team, but in her heart she knew they could make it.
After one day of preparation, when everything was ready, they prepared to leave.
-Rufus, are you sure you're okay?- asked Toni, still worried about his wounds.
-Yes- he said upright –You know I recover quickly-
The young lady knew well that he wasn't capable of lying, just like her.
Then she turned towards Cletus, who was adjusting the coordinates to reach the organon's shuttle.
-He's in your hands, then- she said.
He turned toward the Deponian, she smiled once again like she did that night.
He would have wanted to tell her something more, but…
-Yes- was the only thing that came out.
That Toni had a weird effect on him, every time she smiled an unknown feeling grew inside him.
Rufus looked at the two of them, who were still staring at each other.
After a few instants, the Deponian half-closed his eyes.
-Do you need a room?- he started off maliciously.
The two were startled.
-What the hell are you talking about?!- said Toni.
-A room?- confusingly asked Cletus.
Toni blushed visibly, so much that she had to leave the shuttle due to the embarrassment.
In the meantime Rufus was laughing heartily.
Everything was ready, now the reckoning was just a matter of time.
