Fred knew Fina liked him, he just knew she did. You just didn't get along with someone the way they got along and feel nothing but friendship. But it just seemed like the closer he tried to get to her, the further she pushed him away. Or worse, clung to Joe and her excuse as his assistant. Fred didn't consider himself a jealous guy, but it always burned him when she said that.
Fred thought that when he finally broke off his stormy relationship with Jodie, Fina would know he was serious and they would finally be able to be together. But no, Jodie just had to freak out and claimed he cheated on her and make things super awkward and messy. To be fair though, he probably should have broke it off with Jodie when he first started to have a crush on Fina.
He walked around the village aimlessly his fingers touching his cheek where Fina had both injured and healed him. It had killed him to see her in pain in her feral form, but probably even worse was the emotion pain she was probably in. He still remembered when they first met her and she would cry if she whenever she thought Joe was upset with her.
Fred saw Jodie wondering around too and reluctantly went up to her.
"Hey." He said quietly.
"Hey." She said tonelessly.
"Look, I hate to ask you this but-" Fred awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
Jodie's lips tightened and she looked away. "She's with Joe in the chief's hut."
"Thanks," Fred sighed. "And... I'm sorry for everything that happened. I honestly didn't mean to hurt you like I did."
"Whatever, Fred. I'm totally over your crap." Jodie crossed her arms. "Just an FYI though, I'd take a closer look at Fina's exact feelings and relationship with Joe before you go declaring your undying love for her, if you haven't already that is."
Fred narrowed his eyes. "And just what is that supposed to mean? Her and Joe are just really good friends."
Jodie shrugged and smirked a little. "Sound familiar?"
Fred opened his mouth to respond but found he didn't have the words. When she wasn't with him or San-Li, Fina was always clinging to Joe's side. She cooked for him, she cleaned for him, she lived with him- she was practically his wife or servant! And it was Joe who was able to break Fina out of her feral state, not Fred.
Without another word Fred stormed off away from Jodie and went to find Fina. It took him a while to find what looked like the chief's hut and when he did Joe, Fina, and a short wrinkled guy were just coming out of it.
Fred's breath caught at the sight of Fina. She was now wearing a simple brown dress and her hair was hanging loose and messy around her shoulders. Fred would never admit this to anyone, but sometimes he felt like he just wanted to sit with her and run his fingers through her hair and play with it.
His smile instantly fell when he saw Joe lean over and do exactly what Fred was thinking and say something to her. Fina nodded and headed in Fred's direction.
"Oh hey." Fred assumed a care-free smile. "What's up, Fina?"
"Have you seen, Jodie?" Fina asked. "Joe wants us all together so we can come up with a plan."
"I can take you to her." Fred offered.
Fina nodded and they started walking together. He tried to grab her hand but she pulled her hand away at the last minute and started playing with her hair instead.
"So," Fred said slowly. "I know you said that this isn't the right time for this, but you've been kinda leaving me hanging."
Fina blushed and looked down. "I don't know what you mean."
Fred groaned and turned her to face him. "Come on, you know what I'm talking about. I really like you, but I'm still not one hundred percent sure if you like me. I mean, I think you do, but you haven't told me so."
"Fred," Fina sighed and refused to look at him. Uh-oh, that wasn't a good sign. Time to turn on the charm.
He tilted her face up toward his and gave her his best smile. For a brief moment he saw her wonderful, bright blue eyes light up, but then she looked away from him and closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Fred." Fina said quietly. "But I just don't feel the same way for you that you feel for me. I'm in love in Joe, not you."
Fred felt his stomach twist as she walked away from him. But he had seen that spark in her eyes when he smiled at her and he knew that the past years they spent getting closer to each other wasn't a lie.
"Are you serious, Fina?" Fred said in mild aggravation. "Come on! I'm trying to be upfront with you, why can't you be the same way with me?"
"Because..." Fina mumbled walking faster.
"Because what?" Fred insisted catching up to her easily.
Fina suddenly whirled on him with tears streaming down her face. "Um, because I hurt you!? Because I'm trapped in an eternal bond with the Warp Wizard!? Because you're getting older and older every day and one day you'll forget all about me and I'm sick and tired of being left behind by everyone who I ever cared about!?"
Her voice had risen to a scream and several birds scattered out of the trees in fright. The villagers looked at her in mild alarm, probably afraid that she'll go feral again.
"Fina?" Joe called walking towards them. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine." Fred said quickly. "Just give us a second. Jodie's over that way."
He then promptly scooped Fina up and slung her over his shoulder as gently as possible. She protested of course and fought him, but he ignored her and carried her into the jungle. Like always he didn't have a plan and didn't need one. He just didn't want Joe or Jodie to interrupt them. Again.
He stopped when they reached the banks of a large river. He put Fina down and she automatically started hitting him one the chest and arms. Fred bit back a laugh at her weak punches and hits.
"Since when are you a little spit fire?" Fred asked warmly.
Fina huffed and sat down. "I'm not."
"Right now you are." Fred chuckled and sat down next to her. "Hitting me and screaming at me. You're even trying to lie to me."
Fina laughed and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. "Stop making me laugh."
"I can't help it." Fred smiled and gently caressed her hair. "I like your laugh."
Fina blushed and they both looked out onto the river together in silence. After a while Fina leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know I don't care about your Warp Wizard bond, right?" Fred asked. "And I doubt that I'll ever forget you anytime soon. Not even in a hundred years will I forget someone like you."
"I know," Fina sighed. "But... Joe has to be my first priority. I've barely taught him how to use to time magic let alone how to became the Warp Wizard. At this rate it'll take twenty more years until the High Council bestows the title on him."
"Well I am his best friend." Fred shrugged. "It's not like you'll never see him again if we start dating."
"But there's just one problem." Fina turned her head to look at him. "If I start going out with you, I may never want to leave your side."
Fred grinned. "Who said I'd let you?"
This time, Fina was the one who looked down at his mouth and started to lean forward.
"Well isn't this a sweet scene?"
Fred groaned in frustration. "Seriously? You couldn't have picked a better time?"
Fina stiffened at his side and he turned to see a woman standing behind them. Her skin was pale instead of the dark tan of the villagers and she had long, curly, chocolate brown hair thrown over her shoulder. She was wearing a dark purple dress with a long slit up the side, revealing a series of twisting tattoos on her thigh. She also had tattoos on both of her arms.
Fred didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling about this woman. He quickly pulled Fina to her feet and offered the lady a shaky smile.
"Um, hi. Can we help you with something?" He asked.
"Hmm, perhaps." The woman smiled coldly. "You see, I'm looking for something and I think you two might be able to help me get it."
"W-who are you?" Fina said quietly. "I-I mean, what's your name?"
"Antonia," she smiled. "And you two must be the Warp Wizard's best friend and Fina, the Warp Wizard's assistant."
Fred's smile vanished and he nervously pulled Fina closer to him. "How did you know that?"
Antonia grinned and held out her hand towards them. "The Tenebrosi knows all, Fredrick O'Leary."
Before either of them could react, dark purple smoke shot out from Antonia's outstretched hand and wrapped around them tightly. Fred found it difficult to breath and glanced over to see Fina standing very still with her eyes scrunched tight. He wanted to pull her closer but found that he was frozen in place.
Antonia clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Uh, uh, uh. No calling the Warp Wizard Fina. But, don't worry, he'll come for you two soon enough."
"Don't worry Fina." Fred gasped out as the smoke started to smother them completely. "Everything will be alright."
Everything then went dark as the smoke enveloped them completely.