10/12/16
Two immensely good things: first off, this chapter was a nightmare. I kept changing so much dialog, taking out entire sections putting in new sections, moving sections around but I finally have it in a form that I think is it's best. Maybe somewhere deep inside I think i could do it better but as it is now, I'm happy.
Secondly, 100% Survey Rate. Nailed it. If you want to see me do battle with Telethia the Endbringer I got a video up on my youtube channel. SO stoked to reach 100, didn't think I'd make it with Kruse, glad that I did.
Anyway as usual there won't be an A/N on the final chapter so I'll say one last piece here. Writing this has been a joy and I can't wait to write more for Xenoblade X. If anything I'd like small prompt examples to write some oneshots or short stories from. Like what do so and so do in response to this happening or that. Anything to keep me inspired.
With that, enjoy the chapter I had the hardest time writing (and the finale which I LOVE and not just cause I finally got to write for Mia) and see you next fic!
Feeling
Since Kruse woke up on Mira and joined BLADE, every single thing he's done has been aimed at helping BLADE as a whole reclaim the Lifehold. It was the task that needed to be accomplished before everyone on Mira could go from surviving to actually living.
Despite every single challenge that got in there way they finally did it. All of them, together. The Ganglion's leadership was broken, they were now in tatters but above all, humanity's future was secure.
In the middle of everything Kruse was also sidelined by what may as well be the biggest surprise in his whole life. Or at least from everything he could remember. Elma, was a Xeno. As shocked as he was, it ultimately changed nothing, the feelings he had for Elma were still there. If anything they were stronger now than ever before. Now that a more stable peace has come for humanity, there was nothing standing in his way, he has to let Elma know how he feels.
"Given all the reports that I received from Ga Buidhe. I expected this much of a challenge."
Kruse bowed to Ga Jiarg "Thank you, your highness."
"If anything you are more impressive than the reports said. Of course, seeing something up close and personal it always different."
Ga Jiarg sheathed his weapon and crossed his arms "Luxaar is dead. The Ganglion have been broken. Yet you continue to seek training and strength. You have the heart of Wrothian, Kruse."
Kruse looked up to Ga Jiarg "The Ganglion are broken but they are still here and as long as they are the fight is never over."
Ga Jiarg laughed "Yes. That is the answer I expected to hear from you. Very well, the training continues. Until next time, Kruse."
As Kruse walked out to his Skell he spotted Ga Buidhe "Thank you again, for everything."
"I only did what I deemed necessary."
"Maybe so, but I appreciate it all the same."
Ga Buidhe smiled and nodded "Indeed. See you again, Kruse and remember, stay sharp."
Kruse bowed to her and boarded his Skell, taking off back towards New LA.
As he drew closer to the city he decided to drive by the usual spot that he trained with Elma. As with every time before he was always hoping to see her. To take the time and finally talk to her and today seemed to be his lucky day. Upon driving over a hill he could see her out there on her own, moving from stance to stance, as diligent as ever when it came to her training.
Bringing his Skell to a stop he remained inside and watched her, thinking. Despite wanting to find her to speak with her, now that she was there, he was losing his nerve. Of course it wasn't just that…
Ever since they reclaimed the Lifehold, he and Elma had spent less time together than ever before. She was actually far busier now making the moments where they did see each other very fleeting. However there were also times where Kruse would hope to get a few words in, maybe invite Elma out to train or just talk. So he could finally tell her, everything.
Every time he was about to do so though, she just had somewhere else to be. If someone wasn't calling for her or if she didn't have some other important task she still walked away. Kruse wasn't entirely sure why but to him it seemed that Elma just…didn't want to talk to him.
Watching her continue training he considered jumping out of his Skell. But thought again, if she really didn't want to talk with him, approaching her now would be…well, insensitive in a way.
At the same time, he saw the looks on her face. After everything something was troubling her and he's always done his best to help her, he's always been there for her. That was not going to change.
Taking a deep breath and nodding to himself he jumped out of his Skell and began walking towards her. As he did so, she sheathed her blades and turned to see him. That same odd expression he's noted on Elma's face returned, after a few moments she looked away.
"Elma!"
"Hey, Kruse."
Noting she still wasn't looking at him, he asked what he felt he should have a long time ago "Are you alright?"
She glanced at him quickly before looking away again "Why wouldn't I be? We have the Lifehold back. We've finally accomplished our mission."
He nodded "We did. But since then you've been…distant."
He took a few steps closer "So I just want to make sure that you're alright."
"I'm fine, Kruse. I promise."
"Then why aren't you looking at me?"
Silence filled the air between them. Nodding to himself, Kruse moved closer and put a hand on her shoulder. Instantly she snapped up and looked at him.
"Elma. Remember what I told you? Back atop the New LA walls? No matter what it is, you should know that I'm willing to listen. That hasn't changed and it never will."
Elma closed her eyes and nodded "I know."
Kruse took his hand off her shoulder just as she spoke "I'm a liar."
"What?"
After another silence it hit Kruse, it was so obvious he felt like beating himself up for missing it.
"This is about you being a Xeno."
She opened her eyes, finding him "Not just that…it's the fact that I lied to you. To everyone. Deceived everyone. I just…I know what everyone told me in the Lifehold was true. I know they all meant it but I…I don't feel like I deserve their forgiveness. Their acceptance. Their love."
She shook her head and turned away.
"Elma. Is this because of him betraying us? Our anger at him for what he did was because of what he did and why he did it. What you did and why you did what you did, is completely different. You saved us, Elma. You saved humanity. Without you we would all have been reduced to dust ages ago, without you there would be no humanity. You are our savior."
He walked over to her as she spoke "I couldn't save you all…"
"No. But you did the best that you could. At the very least we're all still here, at most we have logs of other Ark ships, there are more of us and that is all thanks to you, Elma."
He heard Elma sniff and saw her wipe her face. Shaking her head she let out a weak laugh "That's exactly it."
"What is?"
"On the New LA walls. This is all that I'd imagine you'd say. You're so kindhearted…"
Kruse smiled "So that was it. You didn't want to tell me you were a Xeno. That was the secret that had you so worried back then. Well Elma, at the risk of sounding extremely predictable I have to say: nothing has changed. Not for me, not for Lin, not for Irina, Gwin, Doug, none of us. They've fought alongside you for far longer than I have. While I can't say I speak for them I know that I don't have to. They already let you know how they feel back in the Lifehold. It's hard but you can allow yourself to accept it. Accept their feelings."
After a few moments, Elma looked at him "…and you?"
"Me? Elma, do you really think that I, of all people would have any sort of problem with this? With you?"
At her silence he smiled "Elma. You are the most important person in my life. Nothing will ever change that."
"Kruse, I really don't deserve your kindness."
"Well, you have it. You always have. I owe you my very existence and nothing could possibly change that."
Elma looked down "Thank you, Kruse. Truly."
Eyes meeting Elma couldn't fight the desire to smile. She then brought a hand to her cheek and wiped away a few stray tears.
"This must all seem so silly to you. For me to be so bothered by all this."
"Not at all. You've been keeping your true nature a secret from everyone for far longer than I can imagine. Regardless of the reasons I can see why you'd think yourself a liar, a deceiver. But there was no animosity behind any of your actions. Everything you did was for humanity and at the end of the day we are all grateful for that."
"Kruse please, don't make me cry." She wiped her eyes furiously before facing him. After a few moments she approached and embraced him while whispering.
"Thank you."
Smiling, Kruse put his arms around her "Anytime."
The pair stood in silence for a few moments before Kruse let Elma go. "Better?"
She took a deep breath and nodded "Much. I've been…wrestling with these thoughts since the Lifehold. Every night has been so difficult. I knew the truth deep down but…the doubts…they wouldn't leave."
"Well here's hoping they're gone now."
"I should've brought this to you sooner, Kruse."
"We all need time with ourselves. It worked out in the end, didn't it?"
She smiled and nodded "It did."
The pair stood looking at each other in silence. Kruse snapped his fingers "I assume you originally came out here cause you actually have a bit of free time. If so…"
He pulled out his weapon and gave it a quick spin "…want to go a round?"
"Kruse…"
He gave her a big smile, after a few moments a glowing smile came to Elma's face and she drew her blades.
The two clashed against each other as they had done countless times before. Only now, after everything, after all the growth and all the fighting, surviving. There was a different atmosphere to their sparring.
One of joy.
Here they were, two incredibly close comrades sparring just to see who would fold first if either of them did. Doing their best to impress and one up the other. All for their own personal sakes. No looming threat in the back of their minds.
Just the weapons in their hands and the person before them.
Kruse struck hard, throwing Elma to the floor. Rolling over she deflected his oncoming attack and tripped him. As he fell he caught himself and flipped over, landing he blocked her oncoming strikes. The pair looked at each other, smiling and continued.
After they finished they sat on Elma's Skell looking at the sky above.
"Kruse. Do you think this is odd?"
He looked at her "What?"
She gestured at herself.
After a while he realized what she meant "Oh…that you're using your mim?"
She nodded.
"I don't think so. Elma, you've been using your mim for years. I'd be surprised if you weren't more attached to her."
Elma looked at her own hands and smiled "She is a pretty big part of me."
"Just remember this, I don't care if you're in your mim or not, either way, as I've said before you are the most important person in my life."
"…am I really?"
He couldn't help but chuckle "Of course you are Elma, I'd never lie about that."
They looked at each other and shared another smile before returning their gaze to the sky above, night had fallen and stars dotted the horizon.
After a few moments Kruse looked back over to Elma then to her hand. As his attention returned to the sky he moved his right hand over slowly, putting it on top of Elma's left. Feeling the contact Elma looked over to their hands before her eyes found Kruse.
"You remember that day on the New LA walls?"
He looked at her as she nodded "Just like you didn't want to talk about, well yourself. There was something I wanted to tell you then. Something very important, something I've wanted to tell you for months. However given everything I didn't think it was the best time for it."
Elma turned her hand over, fingers intertwining with Kruse's "And now?"
Kruse couldn't fight off the smile "Now? I feel foolish for waiting so long. Foolish for being so scared…Elma."
He took a deep breath before looking into her eyes. "I love you."
Elma stared at him, she herself realizing what it was he just said and also bringing so many things to light. Finally a warm expression came to her face and she smiled. Kruse shook his head "I can't believe I actually said it…"
He looked at her again as she spoke "Kruse. There has always been something about you…always being able to make me feel happy despite whatever it was that was happening. No matter how difficult or trying a day could be as long as you were there, as long as I saw you or spent time with you, everything was just, better. I enjoyed all the time we spent together perhaps far more than I even I admitted to myself and now it's all so clear now as to why."
Closing her eyes she thought back on everything then stared at him again "I love you too, Kruse."
What Kruse felt at that point was practically unexplainable. He felt that the only way to get it out was to start screaming, do something loud, ridiculous, get everything that he felt he was holding in, out.
All he ended up doing was looking down and letting out a long shaky breath "This can't be real. Can it? I'm not in bed dreaming am I? I didn't get knocked out during our sparring session right? Is all of this real?"
He felt a hand on his cheek and looked to Elma. Without a word she moved closer and kissed him. Many situations with Elma often led to Kruse forgetting how to do just about anything, this was no exception.
After she pulled away she asked "You tell me."
As the silence continued Elma couldn't help but laugh "Kruse?" She snapped her fingers in front of his eyes, snapping him back to reality.
"This can't be real…"
He looked down at their still joined hands "…but it is…"
Looking back at Elma he smiled before leaning in and kissing her.
"FINALLY!"
Hearing that Alexa turned to Lin "Finally what?"
"Huh? Oh. This part was just being difficult, it's all good now."
Alexa nodded "Right…alright then."
