Title: Word of the Day v. FFIV
Author: Garnet Eyes
Archived: fanfiction .net, livejournal .com
Last Updated: 11 Mar 2011
Summary: 27 February 2000 edition.
Rating: T
Characters/Pairings: Cecil, Kain, Rosa
Author Notes: exculpate, transitive verb;
1. To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit.
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy IV is owned by Square-Enix and I in no way, shape, or form profit off of my writing. This is simply for my own pleasure, and may at any time be removed and/or modified as I see fit.
...
Rosa had to laugh, at least to herself, when she saw Cecil storming through the castle grounds with such a scowl in his face that he almost looked threatening. He still couldn't look anything more than adorable as far as the white mage was concerned, but then, his features had always been too delicate for anything more severe. And, knowing how difficult it was to bring him to such a standoffish disposition, she could bet she knew why he was so upset, too. While she didn't know who had done it, it was almost assured that someone had made a comment about the young knight's rather feminine form. Rosa rather liked her friend's appearance, because he looked about as threatening as a rabbit in person unless he was wearing his armor. Then, yes, he looked dramatically different behind the black visage, but if he was standing next to Kain then the unusual flair of his hips was noticeable even with the special formation of his uniform. It wasn't like that was something Cecil could control, although he did try his hardest to. Neither Rosa nor Kain was particularly thrilled with the prince's attempts to starve himself into a more masculine shape, but it was impossible to convince Cecil that people loved him for his personality when some of the young knights were so crude.
Hopefully, Kain was around and currently free, or Cecil would be in a sour mood for the rest of the day. The older blonde was the only one capable of calming this particular tizzy, and Rosa knew that was because Kain was a man and Cecil's tormentors were men, so his say had more pull than her own, as a woman. She didn't begrudge such a thing, especially not when she considered how unduly careful the prince was about her feelings in other circumstances.