I opened my eyes slowly to be welcomed to the sight of a large stage. It was much better than any of the stage setups we had in the circus and had the aura of an actual old-fashioned theater. I pulled my goggles up to my helmet as I looked over the sight with wide wandering eyes.
"Wow." A sloppy smile took over my face as I slowly walked up the main aisle toward the stage. "This place is amazing!" I heard a small chuckle behind me as the sound of soft footsteps let me know Lili was right behind me.
"What is the old saying? Every entertainer feels at home near a stage?"
"This is nothing like I'm used to but this is one hell of a fancy place!" I turned toward Lili as I neared the front of the stage. "But I bet this is the kind of place my grandpa performed at! He was one hell of a performer from what my dad remembered. Used to sing and dance as well as did the family acrobat routine. It's how he and my Nona met!"
"He swept her off her feet with a little performance?" Lili's voice had a teasing tone to it and I just smiled proudly.
"From what I know, absolutely." I puffed out my chest slightly as I opened my arms out wide. "Us Aquatos were known for our theatrics! Our performances were to die to see! Especially back when they had their water act! Grulovians would do whatever they could to see my grandpa and his family. They were the best performers alive!" My pride warmed my chest as I turned to look over the stage once more. Its large red curtains towered over the stage as my mind tried to think if it would have been a tall enough area for a high dive. "We were the talk of the country. The most amazing acrobats and entertainers for generations." I swallowed hard as a sudden pit hit me in the stomach. My pride suddenly fleeted as I closed my eyes for a moment. "I wonder how he would have acted if he knew what we're equated to now."
"Well, it's all from the woman he loved right? Would it have really bothered him?" I cringed at Lili's assumption.
Not quite.
"He loved my grandma, yeah." I swallowed hard as I opened my eyes slowly. "But he despised who Lucrecia became. He hated the Gzar and the chaos he created. My aunt was his favorite weapon. He ace in his sleeve and my grandpa despised it. He hated how she worked for the government at the time and was a part of the revolutionaries that tried to free Grulovia at the time. He-." I stopped for a moment as I turned toward Lili slowly. "He was there during the Great Deluge. He drowned that day. Killed by the command of the Gzar and the monster Lucrecia became."
"But in the comics, Lucy saved your Nona from the Deluge. Wouldn't he be happy about that? Wouldn't he find solace in her being safe?"
"I KILLED HER!"
A chill ran down my spine as my brain relived one of the few memories my family and I were given of Lucy before she was hidden from the world.
"My own sister! I told him to not bring her! I told him to keep her safe! How could I? My own ceстра." She held the drowned body of my blood grandmother against her chest for a moment before a bright gold light came from her eyes. The small sobs she had turned to a dark and twisted chuckle as she lowered her sister's body to her lap. "What a fool you all were." A sinister smile appeared on her lips as she dropped the body onto the ground before rising to her feet. "Each life is a small price to pay for the crown. For the Gzar. For the true king!" Her voice roared as she cried out to the chaos of the great flood around her.
"FOR THE GLORY OF GRULOVIA!"
"I don't think he would have ever forgiven her. The way we know she reacted after? I doubt anyone would have forgiven her for the lives she took and I wouldn't blame them."
"Do you forgive her?" I snapped my gaze up toward Lili as the sudden question shook me. "She's caused you hell too after all."
"I-." I hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I know she wasn't herself in those moments. She was controlled. The product of experiments and mind games by the government themselves. A weapon made to cause mayhem." I stopped for a moment as I put my hands in my jacket pockets. "But she knew she was in a delicate state of mind when she came back to Grulovia. She knew she was unstable and her barriers weren't strong. But she came anyway. She was warned, she knew, and she ignored it. She knew what the government wanted from her and she came anyway." I sighed as I took a hand out of my jacket to scratch the back of my head. "I guess I blame her and I don't. I understand the situation, but she should have thought things through more, you know? I know it's not her fault in the end, but I still think she could have done something different about the situation."
"I get ya." Lili took a step closer before reaching out and placing a hand on my shoulder. "But you're in the present here and I know I wouldn't change anything about now for anything in this world." I couldn't help but smile softly as a small squeeze was given to my shoulder. "And you'll show them what it really means to be an Aquato. I know it."
"Thanks, Lili." I watched as a small smile took over her lips as a warmth took over my stomach.
"Anytime, Raz." She pats my shoulder before taking her hand back with a proud smile. "Now, let's see what's taking this show forever, huh?" My smile grew as I gave her a simple nod.
"Let's do it."
"Son of a-." I gave the woman a curious look as I realized she was wearing a headset as she slapped the podium-like table before her. "What do you mean she refuses to come out? She's the star. Stars don't just hide from the spotlight! What's wrong with that woman?!" A hand she held against the headset moved to her forehead as she let out a deep sigh. "She's the light of this world. She can't just leave."
"Lacking a leading lady there?" I strolled toward the woman as I squared my shoulders to give a knowing aura to myself. "I know how to get your main star out and about again."
"And why should I leave them in your hands, kid?"
"I've dealt with my fair share of divas, my friend. I bet I can get something out of her at least." I smiled proudly as Lili came up by my side.
"And he's not just talking about himself." I deflated a little as Lili just chuckled beside me. "He's good on his word though. Give us a chance." The woman sighed dramatically as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"God, how has show business gotten this bad?" She dropped her hand quickly before turning her full attention toward us. "She's in her dressing room. If you follow the hallway behind the stage, you'll see a door with a star at the end. Knock yourselves out and let me know if you succeed."
"You got it, boss lady." I gave the woman a small salute as Lili quickly grabbed my free hand and pulled me toward the back.
"Let's go, Private Aquato."
"Aye, Captain Zanotto!" I chuckled to myself as I let the slightly shorter girl drag me. "This place is amazing." I smiled wide as I looked around the backstage area. "All these ropes and props and stage pieces. It's like a performer's little heaven!" I looked directly up toward the roof of the stage to see where some of the ropes were connected. "Where do you think all these things go to when they're connected? Do you think there is like a grid of some kind up there?" Lili stopped suddenly as she decided to gaze up beside me.
"Possibly. Pulling mechanisms normally have an attachment spot somewhere."
"Oh, I wanna go up there!" I gave Lili a wide smile as I pointed up toward the ceiling. "Can we? Before we leave? I promise I won't ruin anything!" She smiled softly at me as she looped her arm through mine.
"If you're a good little Psychonaut, sure."
"YES!" I fist-pumped with a small joyful laugh as Lili led us back toward our objective.
"Alright, happy little acrobat, let's get things going."
"Yes, ma'am." I gave her a small salute like I did the woman before which caused her to nudge me gently in my side.
"At ease, private." I smiled to myself as I lowered my hand to my side. A small warmth spread through my chest as I noted the happy look on Lili's face.
I wonder what feelings were stirring exactly in grandpa's chest when he knew he loved grandma?
I placed my free hand on top of Lili's that was holding onto my arm with a soft smile.
Maybe it was something like this? Something soft and subtle. Nothing too much in the smaller moments but something that could swallow you whole in the bigger ones.
We fell silent as we reached the hallway that the director lady was talking about.
Though I don't think I would mind if it did take over my being. If it came from her, of course. I bet it would feel welcoming and warm. Fuzzy and electrifying. It would feel like being electrocuted but at the same time-.
I rubbed the back of her hand gently as we walked down the hallway together.
Feel like home.