Here is Chapter 2 of Beyond the Sky! Just a quick shout out to everyone who reviewed Chapter 1 of this story and The Calm before the Storm - you guys are awesome, I really appreciate the feedback! :D This chapter is a longer one, but I hope it's at least entertaining! If you don't understand the title - don't worry, it'll become clear! Enjoyyy!
Red Sky at Night , Sailor's Delight - Chapter 2
"Dunban, are you alright?"
Vanea stood within the shade of one of the nearer buildings, her comrades unpacking the supplies they had brought over from the Machina Headquarters to trade and set up with the local Colony 9 merchants. She gazed over at the Hom, who was currently carrying a massive crate loaded with machinery over to one of the bargaining stands. Setting it down, Dunban wiped his brow with the back of his sleeve. The heat of the afternoon sun had made these tasks somewhat complicated for most of the soldiers, who were not so accustomed to working in such weather. Dunban however, had refused to break as they had and had continued on with the work.
"The sooner we're able to unpack all of this, the better. I'm sure most of you would rather have the day off instead of unloading boxes all day in this heat." Dunban stated with a smile, as he was about to handle another crate.
Vanea addressed him with a concerned gesture. "That's true, but you've been out here for a substantial amount of time, far more than any of us here. Watching you work is like watching a self-induced slave - take a break!"
Dunban chuckled at this statement. Approaching her, he undid his cloak joining her within the shade."If its that much of a concern to you, perhaps I can spare a minute or two." he joked, as Vanea handed him a canteen filled with water. Grateful, he began to drink the contents.
Vanea watched him out of the corner of her eye as he did this. "How does it feel to finally be back home?" she asked, regarding him softly. Dunban took a few seconds before responding.
"I will admit, it's rather a strange feeling. I've been away for so long that Colony 9 almost seems foreign." He then pondered why she had asked such a question. He knew Vanea wasn't one to pry, but the fact that she had asked him this question had slightly thrown him off guard.
Vanea seemed to know what he was thinking. "I felt the same way when we returned to the Machina Headquarters. In a way, it was great to be back and know that we could all finally flourish as we had all hoped. I'm just thankful that we can live in peace without hatred between those who used to be of the Bionis and Mechonis, at long last." She turned to look at Dunban, who approved this statement with a nod.
"Yes, I agree. It was well worth the fight against Zanza, and now we can fully prosper without a need for war." Dunban stated, his gaze distant. Vanea nodded, gazing in the same direction.
She knew that Dunban, much like his gaze, was one to be distant at times. Although she knew he was rather intelligent, every time she looked at him she could see strength, but also pain, dwelling within the depths of his eyes. For what reason she did not fully know, but it was pain she had seen before...within the eyes of her brother. As Egil had met an untimely fate, so too did she think Dunban would succumb to this although not as severe. It was just an assumption, but she feared for him. Sometimes she wondered whether Dunban ever focused on what he wanted, and not just what others wanted of him. Nevertheless, her view of him would always remain the same way - he was a capable person, and she would not doubt his abilities.
Shrugging off these thoughts, she stated on a happier note, "So are you going to meet with Shulk and the others?"
Dunban looked up, a sense of duty written all over his face. "I know Fiora's going to be disapointed, but probably not. There's still much to be done here." He gestured to the machinery that hadn't been fully set up as yet.
Vanea made up her mind. Shaking her head, she smiled at him. "I think we can afford to give you the day off." She noticed Dunban about to protest, but stopped him. "You've done us a great deal back home with the repairs, and you've done most of the work here alone - the least we can do is let you enjoy your first day back at Colony 9. Don't worry about us, we'll manage."
Dunban wanted to protest again, but he knew this was futile. Vanea seemed quite persistent, so trying to convince her otherwise would be pointless.
"Thank you, Vanea." he stated warmly. She extended her arms, and he hugged her. "Take care."
"We'll be seeing each other again soon." Vanea stated as they let go of each other, her lips pursed, almost as if she was slightly smirking at him. Dunban regarded this with a nod but chose to remain silent as he turned his back to her, leaving the premises.
Making his way to the lake, Dunban thought of the conversation he had had just moments before. Vanea seemed to have a soft spot for him, he was sure of that. He would probably see her again, it was inevitable since her and her comrades would be staying at Colony 9 for a few weeks. His mind then wandered to Shulk and the others. He remembered Fiora saying that they had gone fishing...and something about a swim? His mind strayed from Fiora, to Shulk, then to Melia.
Melia. It had been a while since he had last seen her before he'd left for the Machina Headquarters. Pairing the thought of Melia and the word "swim" made images crop up into his mind, which he pushed away violently. Shaking his head, he continued to walk. He remembered the way Melia had looked at him when they had conversed earlier in the day. It had been a look that had simply spoken one word to him - loneliness. However, trying to assume how she had felt would be pointless, as he could never really be certain. Sighing quietly, he continued on, the daylight slowly fading.
The lake was as still and clear as unblemished glass, held at the mercy of the afternoon sunlight. Fiora, Shulk and Melia had chosen to settle at a close spot by the nearby dock, gentle breezes sliding in and out of the area. It hadn't been soon before Reyn and Sharla had made an appearance. Fiora waved them over as the two joined the others.
"Reyn, Sharla, its great to see you guys!" Shulk stated with much enthusiasm, exchanging hugs with both of them. Fiora and Melia did the same. It had been a while since all five of them had been reacquainted with one another since the war. Sharla had taken up medical work, and Reyn was working as well although he usually saw Shulk and Fiora around the colony often. The only member of the group that hadn't shown up was Riki, but Shulk knew that he'd be in town later on in the week before leaving Makna woods in order to visit them.
"Thought we'd skip out on this one, did you?" Reyn asked, pulling Shulk into a headlock. Shulk laughed, Reyn then releasing him a second later.
"No, I never doubted you - although you are slightly late." Shulk stated with a grin. "We've already caught loads of fish, and you missed Fiora's first attempt at fishing -"
"Which has turned out horribly so far!" interjected Fiora sitting beside Shulk unhappily. " Shulk's caught about four fish already, and every time I've tried - there's been nothing!" She glanced up at Shulk glumly, Shulk chuckling at her statement.
"Cheer up Fiora, you'll catch something! I'm sure of it." Shulk stated this as truthfully and honest as he could. Fiora gave him a half smile, and he bent to kiss her gently. Although the two were pretty casual about it, Shulk and Fiora were officially in a relationship at last. Reyn and Sharla however weren't exactly there yet, but Shulk and the others predicted that they'd make it there soon - only time would tell.
Melia caught herself sort of staring at this event, but there was no jealousy that she could feel as she turned away. In the past, Melia had had profound feelings for Shulk - to the point where she had almost been driven to tell him. However, Fiora and Shulk had grown up together, and no doubt had a deep connection with one another. They got along as siblings did, and Melia had known that Shulk and Fiora were meant to be with one another. It was the type of thing that had been inevitable - and ever since she had made that compromise, her feelings for Shulk had decreased over time, but it had been a heartbreaking procedure. Then there was Dunban...and comparing him to Shulk was a completely different story. Her thoughts of the two were then interrupted when she heard slight arguing.
"Help me out with fixing this fishing pole will you, its been irritating the hell out of me." Shulk addressed Reyn, handing him one of rods that had been broken - how it was that way, Melia had no idea.
"Shulk, you've mastered the Monado, but you can't fix a bloody fishing pole - nice one." Reyn smirked.
"I agree with Reyn!" Fiora chimed in, jokingly. "Shulk, I thought you were an expert at all this fishing stuff!"
Shulk looked displeased at all of the nagging, both Fiora and Melia giggling at his reaction. "Yeah well, no one's perfect." Shulk shrugged as Sharla stepped in on the conversation.
"As much as I hate to intervene - I've brought food for all of us, I thought you'd all get hungry at some point."
As Sharla made this announcement, Reyn eagerly addressed this comment with much enthusiam, stating "Sharla, honestly, you're the best!" Fiora, Shulk and Melia exchanged glances at Reyn's attempt to compliment Sharla - it seemed to happen a lot more than they all had anticipated. Most of his compliments were usually somewhat clever and believable, and throughout it all, Sharla seemed to be taking this rather well although they all knew she wouldn't truly admit this - as yet.
As they all sat to eat together, Sharla passing around the food she had brought - Melia noticed something else. Everyone currently seated with her had considerably matured from when she met them previously, and she thought herself no exception. Through the conversation and memories that they now shared of the past - Melia couldn't help but think she'd found where she needed to be. For most of her life she'd been without genuine friends living in Alcamoth. Back then, the only people she'd ever trusted to the fullest would have been her father, Sorean, and her brother, Kallian. Here, she could place her trust within any one of these people that were currently in front of her - and for that, she would always be grateful.
Afterwards, the group started to fish again - Reyn eventually becoming bored and eventually challenged Sharla to a competition of skipping stones. Melia had a chance to try her hand at fishing, Shulk guiding her the same way he had with Fiora. To her surprise, she managed to catch a larger fish - Shulk being rather impressed by this since it was her first time. Fiora outdid her - by catching three fish by the end of the day. Shulk and the others also ended up taking a swim. Even after much protesting from Fiora, Melia hadn't ended up going swimming - feeling a bit self-conscious about the whole idea.
Dusk had settled upon the area when the friends finally decided to head back to the Colony. Fiora hadn't forgotten about Dunban, rather disappointed that he'd missed out. Melia also, felt the same way, but did not voice her opinion. As they started to pack and then leave, Melia decided to stay behind, telling them that she'd catch up later. The others didn't seem to have a problem with this, but as they left, Fiora turned and waved at her, smiling. Shulk turned too and did the same - but she could see worry in his eyes, almost as if he didn't feel right leaving her there alone.
However, soon, she was alone. Relishing the peace she now had to herself, Melia contemplated silently on the dock by herself, gazing out onto the horizon.
Dunban approached the lake silently, the sky blemished with a dying reddish hue - signalling the forthcoming of the night. He could hear no voices from the shoreline, which perhaps meant that he'd missed Shulk and the others. The first thing that came to thought after this assumption was the nagging that he'd have to endure from Fiora the following morning about why he hadn't shown up when Shulk and the others had been present. Wanting to turn away and head back home, Dunban was about to make the thought a reality when he stopped himself. Perhaps some time alone would be beneficial, he thought. There were many things on his mind, and sorting them out rationally by the lake wasn't exactly a bad idea. Dunban found that he was often grateful for when he did have time to himself. Moments like this flew out of his grasp like lost feathers to the wind - times like these had been scarce in the past since he had been previously occupied with the war.
Making his way downhill and approaching the dock, Dunban caught sight of someone sitting alone within the pale light. Squinting, he realized it was Melia. What was she doing there alone? Where were the others? Had something happened to them? Dunban immediately tried to analyze the situation before him. If Shulk and the others were in trouble, no doubt Melia would not be sitting there calmly. There was only one way to figure out what exactly had gone on while he had been away, and that would be to discuss things over with Melia herself. He approached the dock quietly, his steps soft against the grass.
Melia had one foot dangling over the dock, the water reflecting the sky as if it were blood. When Dunban approached further, she still hadn't noticed him. Standing beside her, Dunban gazed across the illuminated water. Glancing into her eyes, he could see that she was in deep thought - her eyes trained on a single spot across the lake. Perhaps, he could get her attention...but in a way he saw fit...
Melia jumped when she felt something cold press against the side of her neck. Jumping up, she wildly gazed around. She found Dunban beside her, his sword at her throat( it was sheathed - thank god). "Dunban!" she cried out irritably, standing. "You scared the life out of me! What are you pointing your sword at me for?"
Dunban pulled his sword away, trying not to laugh at her reaction. "I wasn't going to hurt you. Just a small lesson - always be wary of your surroundings."
At this statement, Melia turned away in a huff. Secretly, she knew she had been immersed in her own thoughts rather deeply, and Dunban had made a good point. If it hadn't been him, perhaps a stranger that had a sword pointed at her, she could have been dead by now. However, she wouldn't let him have the satisfaction.
"You make a good point Dunban, however, I do not see a need for me to be worried at the present time. The war is over, and you all live peacefully here in Colony 9. Who would want to attack me, and for what reason?" she scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Melia, relax - I was just teasing." Dunban stated, approaching her further. "Although it doesn't hurt to be wary at times - especially when you least expect danger to occur. From experience, it has helped in many situations." Melia raised an eyebrow, then sat again, resuming her gaze across the lake. There was slight silence between the two.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, it won't happen again." Dunban stated finally. His tone was apologetic and honest, so she nodded, giving him a small smile. At this, Dunban reciprocated the gesture, and sat beside her.
"So, I presume Shulk and the others have gone?" he asked, as he turned to look at her. Melia nodded, looking confidently back at him.
"They left about 10 minutes prior to when you thought it would be funny to sneak up on me." She gave him a jokingly vexed face, and Dunban chuckled.
"I see. Sounds like I'll be in for it tomorrow, Fiora will be angry that I didn't join you all this evening." Dunban said, smiling to himself and Melia chuckled.
"Well, I am still here - so I could vouch for you." she said, gazing up at him.
Night had settled in, the sky still pleasantly lit. Now that she was observing him again, his face was illuminated by the dying red light - his eyes reflected this light, as if burning. He always looked so collected, his face calm, unperturbed and how could she put it...radiant. Flashbacks of her dream from the morning invaded her mind as she thought of him, and quickly she shook off these thoughts, slightly blushing. Dunban however, hadn't noticed. Quickly, she decided to set her mind elsewhere.
"So, why are you here alone?" Dunban asked. She could slightly detect some concern within his question, and inside she felt warmth.
"It was my own choice, I wanted some time to myself." Melia answered him truthfully. "It is very peaceful here, and it reminds me of my home. " She smiled as she made the relation, memories of Alcamoth flooding back to her. Dunban nodded, realizing that this was something they shared in common - both he and Melia appreciated space to contemplate.
"Were you able to attend to everything in town?" she asked him, the question quite genuine.
Dunban nodded again."Yes, although I will be working there for the rest of the week - I'm not out of the woods just yet."
Melia chuckled at his statement. "I am sure you'll be fine, you are most capable in any situation." she stated, only realizing a split second later that she'd given him a rather odd sounding compliment. Dunban didn't say anything, his gaze still the same as it had been before.
At this time, night had fully settled onto the area - a massive dark sheet sprinkled with faint stars, the moon casting bright shadows across the water. However, the air was pleasantly warm and comfortable. A breeze caught Melia and she took it in with eyes closed, rather grateful. "Tonight is perfect - the weather is cooperating at least."
Dunban nodded. Then a thought came to him - a rather interesting one. The wooden boards of the dock creaked as Dunban stood. Setting his sword and bags down, Dunban began undoing his shirt.
Melia was taken back by this. "What are you doing?" she murmured, gazing up at him and trying not to stare.
Dunban chuckled. "I'm going for a swim." To Melia, his statement sounded almost as if he had expected her to have known what he was doing.
"...Oh. I see." was all she replied to him with, sort of surprised. All sorts of questions swarmed her mind at that point. Why had he just decided to go for a swim out of the blue? Did he expect her to go in with him?
Melia didn't realize that Dunban was regarding her with an amused expression, her thoughts displaying a confused look across her face.
"Melia, are you alright?" he asked. Melia looked up at him, only to realize he was standing in front of her half-naked, in his trousers alone.
"I am fine." she stated, holding her ground, but trying to look elsewhere to hide her blush at his state of dress.
"Would you like to join me?" he asked, his question a simple one.
"No, thank you." She stated this rather warily. At her answer, Dunban nodded, respecting her decision.
Melia watched him wordlessly as he slipped into the water a minute later - there was a slight splash, and then she saw him return to the surface of the lake. Watching him run a hand through his wet hair, she bit her lip, looking away. She had to admit that Dunban was attractive - but when wet, he was 10x better. Now that she was thinking about it, perhaps this wasn't such a bad idea to join him...or was it?
Suddenly her instinct took over. Would she ever get this chance again? This was a late night swim with Dunban of all people...there were so many things that could go wrong if she did...or would they?
Suddenly, a feeling swept over her. It was the same feeling she had felt before - on the beach with Dunban, the night she had made the decision to kiss him for the first time. She needed to take this moment. This was an opportunity she would never get back - for one night, she would be reckless.
Disregarding any consequences she'd thought of before, Melia made her decision. "I'm coming in!" she called to Dunban.
At this, Dunban was surprised. Knowing Melia was stripping, he turned his back to her...a rather difficult task. He heard a loud splash behind him a moment later, and turning he saw her.
Her wet, lavender hair clung to her skin, her curls no longer existent. Droplets of water dripped off of her long eyelashes and down her full, moist lips. Blinking in the light, her cheeks were tinged pink, her blue eyes glistening. Dunban regarded this all rather slowly. Melia was a natural beauty - there was no denying that. He did not voice these thoughts, as he regarded her wiping water away from her eyes.
"Well, someone was quick to change their mind. Why the sudden change of heart?" Dunban teased her, as both of them treaded water , quite close to one another.
Melia smirked at him. "It was a reckless decision on my part. If I were to do this is Alcamoth and get caught, the High Entia would definitely renounce me as their leader." Dunban noticed as she was saying this, her eyes were sparkling - almost as if she felt good doing something that would have been a crime. He chuckled at this thought. Melia liked being a rebel, he was sure of that.
"I see. Perhaps I should notify the High Entia about your heinous crime as soon as I get the chance." Dunban joked with a laugh, and Melia, knowing that he was teasing her, splashed water at his face, which hit him instantly.
"Oh, two can play at that game!" Dunban laughed once he'd recovered, swimming towards her. Melia too, laughed rather loudly as she tried to swim away from him as fast as she could. She knew she had no chance, and within the next few seconds, she felt water crash over her head - Dunban's retaliation. She cried out, vexed that she'd been caught. Flipping her sopping wet hair behind her back, she started after him again. The two carried on for some time in the same way until Melia surrendered after becoming tired, Dunban catching her and pulling her into him gently.
"Alright, I give up!" Melia threw her hands up, laughing hysterically, almost as if she was having the time of her life. At this Dunban laughed too, but in the moment he held her, he noticed something he hadn't before. He'd never truly seen Melia this happy, ever. Her eyes continued to shine, her smile luminescent. In the moment, Dunban was glad he had made the decision to come and stay with her that night. Her smile alone did something to him that he would never be able to fully understand.
Melia finally stopped laughing, looking up into Dunban's eyes. He was looking at her in the same way he had back on the beach, so long ago. She could feel her heart threatening to break out of her chest - it was beating so hard she thought both of them could perhaps hear it. "This is it." she thought, still gazing at him, their eyes locked. For so long she had waited for him to come back to herr, almost too long.
She didn't want to give up on him. She never had. The time was now. She would say all that she had to say.
Melia moved towards him cautiously. "Dunban…I think it's about time we talked." She stated this softly, but with solidity.
Dunban continued to look at her, regarding her statement. He knew where this was going.
She came towards him further, the water rippling beneath her.
"What...exactly happened to us? After Galahad fortress, I thought it was understood between us that we would try to work things out..." Melia said, her eyes piercing his. His face still yielded no emotion. His answer was one she did not expect.
"That is true, I will not deny that. However, Melia, prioritizing at that particular time was crucial - it was life or death between the Bionis and Mechonis. During that time, it was my duty to protect and help all of you - and that alone. Shulk and the others were not ready to hear such news about us, as I already explained to you."
Dunban stopped himself there. There were many things that Melia did not fully understand, she was still young and did not understand duty as he did. In time, he knew that she would. As the leader of Alcamoth, she would have to prioritize her time in dealing with much more than just herself - she would be running her city. On numerous accounts had Dunban been nominated as a designated leader of the Defense Force. That wasn't something he was fond of saying, because he did regard himself just as equal as any solider of the colony. However, the experience he had obtained from being in such a position had allowed him to fully mature and gain insight as to what life on the battlefield was like - long preparation, hard work and determination, and most of all - duty to his comrades and colony.
Melia took in his answer. She knew what he was getting at. Dunban had been 'the leading man' next to Shulk when they had all been fighting together as a group to defeat Zanza. She knew that because Dunban was experienced, guiding them would have been his main goal. Perhaps he had thought that if they had continued on as they had, he would not fully be doing his part, and breaking his morals without actually telling her so. At least, that was her interpretation of his answer.
"I understand." Melia stated finally. She was close enough to him that their faces could almost touch. "However, the war is over and we can live freely now. Can we still try to make this work between us?" The last few words she had spoken had almost turned into a whisper.
Dunban had feared this. He knew Melia was correct. The war was over, they were free to make there own decisions, without a need for Gods or war. He would have to choose his words carefully. Once again, Melia would not be able to understand everything that was currently happening within his life, and he wasn't in the mood to lecture her.
Quietly, he stated "I'm truly sorry Melia, but until the right time arises, I cannot."
At this, Melia went rigid. After all this time, he hadn't thought of her the way she had him…why did this have to happen? Sorrow took over her body, and she moved away from Dunban partially, confused. Why did he always push her away? What was the true reason? She could see Dunban looking at her out of the corner of her eye, but she could not tell what his expression was within the darkness.
However, there was something else that she felt as she began to contemplate what he had said. A tiny flicker of hope. Until the right time arises. Those words he had said resounded in her head again and again. Was he still potentially implying that they could be together?
She decided to make one last effort, with a renewed strength - not wanting to argue with him or give up so easily. It was all or nothing.
"Until the time arises then." she whispered. Gently touching the side of his face, her lips found the corner of his mouth. She waited to see if he would respond, and surprisingly, his lips moved gently over hers.
Inwardly, Melia couldn't have been more pleased - if she had gotten him to respond, then maybe he still cared for her in some way.
The kiss lasted only for a few seconds before both drew away. Melia smiled up at him, and silently, he returned the gesture.
"It's getting late, we should probably head back." Dunban stated, his voice a little lower than usual. Melia nodded. Dunban let her get out of the lake first, waiting until she was fully clothed. Then he emerged, also dressing and gathering his belongings. Once they were both ready, the two silently made there way back to the Colony.
As they walked, the conversation was little but meaningful. In and out of these conversations Melia thought of the kiss. It hadn't been like the beach - Dunban had been more aggressive there. Here, he hasn't really done much. What did that mean? Dread consumed her - perhaps Dunban still cared for her, but not to the same degree he once had.
However, deep down, something was telling her otherwise. Not knowing which assumption was true, Melia slid her hand into Dunban's - and it remained there to her surprise until reaching his home.
Author's Note: Holyyy shittt. This chapter was hard to write. Halfway through I had a writer's block and didn't know where it was going until I got the whole "night swim" idea, and then everything came easier! I can't believe I made Dunban sound like a bit of a pervert - but hey, everyone has an imagination (referring back to the whole scene of him thinking about Melia/swimming) :P The next chapter, for sure, will be one of the best ones I will write for this fic - involves a birthday(...but I won't say whose, just to keep you guessing hehehe :P)aaaaand alcohol. Loooots of alcohol.
Yea - things are gonna get interesting! :D Anything you want to suggest? Comments? Reviews are appreciated! :)