AN: Again, another practice with a different writing style.
Was thinking when I was going through this fic that, at some point, Genis would have to find out about Lloyd and Presea. This is set in the aftermath of such a discovery, and how Presea feels lost in dealing with it.
As such, this is set between Heimdall Part Two and Release.
The space between those minutes served as a brutal reminder of how she had lived under the influence of her Exsphere.
Rendered lost.
Mute.
The cacophany of thoughts and feelings; determined but fleeting, and just out of her shaky grasp.
What am I supposed to say now?
Genis was staring at her; his eyes were still glistening but had now managed to muster a degree of immature challenge; the words only seconds ago spoken through pale lips, but seeming as through they had been in existence much longer. Presea gazed at the half-elf straddling the branch above her, torn between the absolute relief of finding him and the terrible fear of discussing concepts she had barely begun to understand herself.
His lips moved again, but the sound was like the coastal wind on a tempestuous day - lost amidst the waves smashing themselves against the rocks. A further moment passed and Presea realised how much she felt like those waves right now.
She looked from Genis to the darkening sky, barely visible through the canopy of the trees.
The clouds pregnant with rain.
The static crackle in the air.
A storm on the horizon.
Another prophetic metaphor she did not need to be considering right now.
He was waiting for her response; she knew that much. But she couldn't undo the decay of all the things he had imagined would be. Some small part of her then wished for the return to her Exsphere state. Unable to recognise her feelings.
Oblivious to his.
But she was aware now. And she could feel every heart wrenching sensation of it. If this had been her story; if her love for Lloyd had gone unrequited - If, despite her feelings, she could never be with him then...
The first tiny drops of rain began to fall. Shimmering trails running down the leaves.
The branches.
Her cheeks.
All I can say.
She licked her lips, only then realising how dry they were, and hoped the words would come.
Genis. I wanted to say…
"I'm sorry."
All done *dusts hands*
Spacing was all important for this fic, and the upload has gone and ruined it. Grr!!!
You never know, this may make it to 20 fics :-) Due to some critical problems with the story for All of Tomorrow's Horizons I will probably use some of the set pieces for this (e.g. homecomings, weddings, etc). Watch this space...