Filling In The Blanks

A/N: Excitedness... No excitedness for going to school tomorrow :'( Sob.

Disclaimer: I don't own it... You all should know that by now.

Chapter 21: Argumental Conversations

Dagger sat on her bed. She bit her lip, stood up and walked to the door. With her hand on the handle, she decided against whatever she was thinking, and went to sit in a different part of her room, only to repeat the process moments later.

Closing her almond eyes, she tipped her head back, opening her orbs againt to watch the ceiling. She had done whatever she could to this room to make it seem like home, but she was hurting... She had been back at the place she had missed so dearly.

The girl was also a pretty good actress herself. The thing was: after she turned about eight years old, she mastered the art of pretending there was nothing wrong, and bottling up her emotions, as though they were never there. Yes, she cried about spontanious things that were in her life then and there, but as for her past life, her family, her kingdom - everything like that... She was as hard as a rock when it came to that...

Though now being back and seeing how much had changed from her old fuzzy memories of when she used to be a Princess, Dagger found that bottling those things up could be harder now... She knew when Cid came to her to speak about the summoning, there would be no time to get pity from him... No time to share the sadness of what had become of a kingdom he hadn't seen in over thirteen years... He would be angry - furious even that all those things that were so sharp in her mind that he had instructed her to do over the years for her own safety - the older she became, the less of a game he had made it like he once had when she had first heard her new name of Dagger - ended up being disobeyed... She had jeopordized a lot of things...

She was almost at the same level of fault as Blank, though definitely no one could beat Zidane's decision. That was the ultimate fault, and yet seeing the silent fury that seemed to build within everyone towards her, she could no longer find it in herself to be angry at the blonde.

That's when her course changed. She stood from where she leaned against a wall, her thoughts engulfing her so much she hadn't even realized she repeated the same process three more times until she was aware of what she was doing again. As quiet as she could, she opened her door, but before leaving picked up a necklace from her table closer to her bed.

The necklace was a beautiful piece of garnet from her mother that Beatrix had given her when she thought that Dagger could handle it emotionally, and be responsible enough not to lose it. It seemed to be chipped in half, then the metal clasp holding the gem to the necklace itself had been dented in, so the remaining piece of stone did not fall out.

?

Zidane laid on his bed stairing at the ceiling. His shirt had been thrown to the side, too much blood on it to be saved, his boots kicked off and left on a chair where he had to remember them so he could clean them off after Cid had come to see him... Most likely kick him out of the resistance to never see him again...

Good riddence... One part of him thought. I would be endangering any of the people I wish to fight to protect then... Shaking out his dirty blonde hair, he quickly sat up as a knock vibrated on his door.

"Come in..." He breathed, being ready to be attacked once more, his nose aching still.

To his surprise, it was Dagger who quietly shut the door behind her. He felt the need to stand and explain something to her - anything - but no words came to his tongue. Without any words spoken, she began casting a cure to help his nose, and he appreciated it a lot... It was rather annoying having to to breath out of his mouth.

She let on a small, sad smile, "Can I sit down?"

"Of course..." He nodded, pulling out a chair for her, as he yanked on a new shirt; sliding the material over his head he saw her looking around the room, attempting to look anywhere but at him. "What's wrong?"

She glanced at him, but quickly away, "I should be mad at you..."

"Yeah..." He nodded, "I'm kind of mad at myself, so you definitely have a right to be."

She looked up, "Then why'd you do it, Zidane? Why did you put those you love in danger? Why did you do something that could jeopordize something you worked so hard to create..." She pushed off the table and started to pace the room, using her hands to thrash the air, slicing it down as she walked, brow creased, voice full of disgust, "Why? Why did you not think about what would happen, and only care about the then and there? Why did you have to do something that would enable your heart to open up to things you thought you pushed away?"

He considered all of her questions as she paced, breathing heavily, intaking the kind of breath that said in itself that she wasn't done, but before she spoke again, he looked at her, "Are we talking about me, or you, Dagger?"

She stopped and turned to him helplessly. Her knees pressed together as her legs bent, and her breathing quickened as tears stung her eyes. Putting a hand to her mouth, she fell to her knees, breaking into sobs she couldn't hold back any longer.

She curled her free hand, not covering her whimpering noises erupting from her throat, and slammed it on the floor. She hadn't realized in such a long time how hard it was for her, and how much keeping bottled up emotions could make you snap. She was lucky she did in this way, and not in an angry fit...

Her thoughts beating up herself were interrupted when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Glancing up through watery vision she saw the blonde, a very sympathetic look on his face, knees bent, body bent at his waist as he rubbed his hand on her shoulder blade, pushing her hair off of her neck.

She saw how much he cared for her, when everyone else was angry. This was a good thing... A very good thing, because he had no idea... He had no idea what she was crying over, and he knew it wasn't a good thing to ask. She could just be upset, and he would just simply be there for her... He wouldn't pity her, or be angry about her actions or anything... He only knew the present and that gave her more comfort than she possibly thought she could receive.

Lurching forward, with both hands she squeezed his one hand, that had previously been dangling at his side. Salty tears rolled down her pale cheeks, dripping onto the floor, creating dark circles wherever they landed. All she could do was breath onto his hand, her dark eyes watching the moist spots on the floor as he comforted her.

"I'm sorry..." He said simply, not knowing what else to say... "I know, I can't promise you that things will be okay, or things will get better because I don't know... I can just promise that I'll be here for you, okay?" He pulled her up, and she hugged him.

It was a refreshing hug. It wasn't one of lust or romance, seeking somebody to be alone with, or simply happy or angry to see them - whatever the embrace might represent... It wasn't anything that spoke any emotion - nothing that could make her or him confused. It was simply comfort for a friend - something she needed very much... Though she had to admit in the back of her mind, that wasn't completely in turmoil - one thought figured perhaps she was a little happier that it was Zidane that was there for her... and not anyone else. A blush - such a silly thing as that - threatened to go to her cheeks, causing a smile to grace her lips as she cried, torn between a few emotions she couldn't pick out.

Zidane rubbed his hand over her back, offering solace to the broken girl in his arms. He pushed her hair out of the way with his other hand, and kissed her on the top of her head, breathing in the naturally delicious scent of her hair. He closed his cobolt eyes and smiled, rocking her back and forth for increased effect of the hug.

When Dagger had calmed down slightly, she heard two things clinking together between the two of them, and pulled back while wiping her eyes to see what it was.

There were two pieces of garnet between them, one on a thin rope, and other on a chain for a necklace. She glanced at the blonde who shrugged at her.

"I saw it before I left... I knew it must have belonged to you because I see you wearing the garnet around your neck all the time..." He smiled, "I wore it... and I was going to bring it back to you to show you I would come back safe..."

She smiled at him, touched at his mindset. That's when he took off the necklace, and places it against hers so the pieces fit almost perfectly together, give or take a few pieces that hadn't stuck to either large chunk.

"And I never break promises you know..."

She smiled and hugged him again, this time with a little more intention towards affection than anything else. He held the garnet tightly in his hand as he wrapped his arms around the girl.

While life for Dagger was falling apart, Zidane worked his own type of magic to the best of his ability to repair it again...

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"Steiner, you need to calm down..."

"Calm down? The little rat is getting off easy!" He roared, punching into the table, leaving what looked to the brunette like a possible dent.

"What you would like to do is kill him!" She sneered, "You can't do that!"

"You're just being stubborn!" He crossed his arms and hunched away from her in his chair.

She smiled fondly at his child-like nature, and placed a delicate hand on his hand, "I think you are..."

He sighed and looked at her, "Beatrix, I - we could have lost you..."

"I know that... But I'm okay now, alright? And that's all that matters. I know you're angry with all three of them, but I also know you aren't exactly all that fond of Zidane. Of course you like him, but you have an anger, especially towards people you don't know as well... Just calm down alright? You know... Blank is right - if you were Zidane, and I were one of his comrades, you would have come after me as well..."

Steiner was silent, because he knew she was right. "But that's not the point."

"It is the point Steiner..." She nodded, and smiled slightly. "we're alright now, okay? We're going to be fine... Everyone is going to be fine... Zidane, Blank, and Dagger are going to get rhemed on a lot - the least we can do is not help make them feel worse."

"That's difficult." He glared at the table, and picked away at some chipping wood until he got to ansy and walked up to the cupboard, getting a glass, and filling it with some water from the jug on the rickety counter top. He stared at it for a while, not drinking anything out of it.

He moved it slightly, shaking for whatever reason was unknown to Beatrix, and she watched him as he put on his pondering face, watching the water as it sloshed back and forth.

"It moves so fiercely, and yet has no where to go..."

"Steiner..." She sighed and pushed herself off the chair, walking over to him moving slowly, "everything will be fine, alright?"

"Indeed it shall..." He turned away, chugging the water, before walking out of the room.

She watched him go, a feeling lurching in her chest for her to stalk after him and argue... It seemed as though her feelings for Steiner were there, she felt superior over him, just as she always had. It was pretty much a love-hate relationship... Rolling her eyes she walked out of the room as well.

?

"Are ya sure ya can go alone? I can come along if ya'll would like..."

"Why are you being so nice to me, Ruby?" Blank questioned, raising an eyebrow and glancing with a smirk at Marcus.

He face planted and shook his head, "Both of you are being ridiculous. Ruby you should just tell him, and Blank you are an absolute idiot!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He glared, though didn't take offense. He felt cornered (in a playful sort of way) when people decided they wanted to make a point instead of share the joke with him.

"It means that you... are... dumb!" Cinna exclaimed walking into the room.

"Alright this is my cue to go get the water. See ya later..." He stood from the couch and was about to walk out.

"Don't ya'll go leavin' without me!" Ruby huffed, ruffling her green skirt as she stood, flicking the blue hair from her face.

"I never said you were coming?" Blank shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

Ruby glared, "I try to be nice, and you just push me away!"

Blank chuckled, glancing at the others sitting on the discolored and unmatching furniture. They seemed to both shrug and snicker, watching from the background when Blank had to deal with the rage of a woman. And not just any woman - it was Ruby... That name by itself scared half the Tantalus crew out of their shorts.

Marcus had made the comment once that they were absolutely ready to take on Kuja and take him down in less than ten hits - simple enough... But something they couldn't handle, was Ruby on a rampage... He told the others in the group that he would rather face Kuja than her.

"Why's it always me you have to be yelling at?" Blank whined, causing the others to outright laugh; they shut up when Ruby sent them a glare, shortly after Blank began to scowl at the two.

He threw up his arms and walked out of the room.

"Ruby... Come on..." Cinna snickered.

"Oh hush you!" She stomped out of the room, leaving the two in the crew to begin to laugh.

Blank shoved one hand in his pocket, the other was in a sling, and when he looked down at it he only began to grumble. There was something about not having both arms that really bothered him.

"Blank..." For the first time in his life, Blank heard Ruby's voice as calm and soft, and possibly even a little caring.

"Yeah Rube?" He turned to her with a smile on his face, though it was really forced - he wasn't in the mood to talk.

"Sorry 'bout your arm..." She shrugged, "I wish there was somethin' else I couda done to help..."

"What do you mean?" He questioned, cocking his head to the side, confusion scribbled onto his face.

"I guess I was perty upset seein' ya there. I guess I was perty upset when ya'll left period..."

"Are you admitting that you actually dont hate me, Rube?" He smirked, until he got hit in his good arm. "Ow!"

"Quiet now! Ya dumb fool! What I am tryin' to say -" she looked at his puckered face, holding in a laughter before she threw up her arms, mimicking what he did earlier, and hooked his shirt collar with her petite hand, wrenching him up to her height, and slammed her lips onto his.

As the moments flashed by in an almost blur, Blank stood dumbfounded and completely shocked. His eyes were wide open, though you couldn't tell if you looked at him, but the funniest thing to him was that, as he stood there on his tip toes, being kissed by a nineteen year old he had always thought he was annoyed by, and always thought she hated him... He found that he was kissing her back.

When finally she nudged him backwards again, causing him to stumble almost to a fall, her face was slightly irritated, "Now do ya'll see what I was tryin' to say?"

He nodded, still unable to speak.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" She raised an eyebrow, and places her hands on her hips, popping one out, and leaning forward, "Now ya didn' think it was all bad, did ya?"

He shook his head, words not able to form on his tongue.

She sighed, almost relieved, "Good!" She glanced at his arm, his hand balled into a fist, poking out of the side of the sling. Carefully she placed her hand on his, and he released it as she let on a slightly fond (at least that's what he thought it was) smile, "Does it rain on your parade, Darlin' to not be able to use it?"

"Not being able to use it? Fuck! You're lucky to still have an arm you damn kid!" He grumbled, walking away.

The two of them turned to see a man wondering away, anger apparent by the red painted all over his face.

"Was that that man with a nub?" Ruby asked, turned back towards the redhead, who found a goofy grin break onto his face.

"I think so? What was his name...?" She smiled at him, seeing as he wasn't really having a nervous break down about what happened just then between the two of them.

Blank shrugged, and turned towards the girl, a slight blush rising to his cheeks as he scratched the back of his neck, "I'm going to go... Get the water..." He walked away, leaving her standing there smiling and shaking her head at him.

Though they had cleared up the feelings they had for each other, for some reason it seemed like their relationship was going to get harder from then on...

?

"Do you remember if you have any family, Vivi?"

"What?" Vivi looked at Freya, who sat stitching up some cloth to create some clothes for anyone who needed extra pairs.

He had been learning the stitch pattern from the Bermecian, who wasn't very good herself - but it got the job done. He felt he wanted to help more than he was, though she insisted that he was helping enough by simply being there, but he denied it and wanted to help more. Seeing as Vivi had never been that persistant about anything, she allowed him to watch her, but she felt they needed conversation as they worked.

"Do you remember?"

"Oh... Um..." He got quiet as he picked up a needle, and concentrated on threading it.

She stopped and looked up, though he couldn't see her aquamarine eyes on him due to her hat, he realized she had halted her work, and froze as well. When she started back up, he went to work again, having difficulties but finally threading it.

"Or any friends you might have known? You mustn't answer if you do not wish... I was simply wondering, as no one really hears your side of things..." She smiled at him, though he was still embarrassed by her words.

"I think... I did have my grandpa."

"You're grandpa?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah... He had a dwelling in a cave somewhere..." He smiled fondly, "I don't remember a lot about it, except the wonderful smells... He was a great cook, and we lived really happy until..." He trailed.

"Kuja's soldiers?"

Vivi nodded meakly and sighed, putting down the needle, "I wonder if he's still alive..."

"I bet you could probably find out... Do you remember his name?"

Vivi shrugged, "I don't know if I would want to know..."

"Why not?" She questioned, watching him in the bright light. It was about the only room in the whole underground headquarters that had bright lighting. Candles scattered every shelf that was able to be nailed into the stone, and on every table that wasn't occupied with cloth, scraps, needles, and thread.

"Because... what if he was dead? I would know then, and it would make me sad..."

She didn't really know what to say to that. That's where her and the young mage differed. She wanted so dearly to know if Fratley was dead, she had considered a few times heading back to Bermecia to check up on him... She hadn't been back there in over a month, and even before that she didn't know exactly where Fratley had gone with their king... She was only in the city with a few other Bermecians, trying to find any clues on the death of some of their friends before they were run out again by black mages.

But she figured that the one with the hat had a very good point. Perhaps she shouldn't worry herself with the health of Fratley... Maybe if she didn't wonder, he would show up to find her one day again... But if he never did, and she never found out he was dead, she could put it into her mind that he was out on an adventure, and would eventually come back...

He definitely had the right mindset.

Tugging some string with her teeth, she watched Vivi mime her feeble movement.

"What about you, Freya?" Vivi asked, in an attempt to get the spot light and awkward conversation off of him.

"Me?" She wasn't really used to speaking of herself to anyone - she forgot on occassions there were so few that knew her story - perhaps it was because she always ran over it so many times in her mind, she expected everyone just carried the knowledge.

"Yeah... Where did you come from? Is anyone still alive?" Somehow, the mage brought the gloomy subject up from a murky pit, where it was something almost refreshing to talk about - perhaps by his voice.

"I came from Bermecia... It's west of here... Past the mountains, and closer to the sea on the other side of the continent than anything... Kuja's mages flocked the place. My king and his guards had to hide underground, trapped in the very city..." She left out a large chunk - the whole part to do with Sir Fratley.

Vivi noticed, but never asked. He smiled, "What's it like?"

"Beautiful..."

She described it just how things used to be... She never normally liked hot summer days in sand with no rain and absolutely zero sound, but... It had been so long since she was even able to hate it - that it would probably sound rather nice to her now. Unfortunately, she figured there might never be a time in her risky lifestyle that she would ever witness that again...

?

"Why... That's all I want to know..."

"I thought it was the only way... I am sorry..."

"What's done is done... I just pray there aren't consequences..."

"Are you really that angry with me?" She stiffened, looking up at him with gleaming eyes.

Dagger had left Zidane's room, dodging any people besides one moogle in the hall, darting back to her room, and able to sit for only a few moments before her uncle walked into the room, his long cape fluttering behind him as he moved. There had been a lot of silence to start the conversation, but other than that... He hadn't yelled at her - at least not yet.

"Of course I'm angry... But I am not going to be angry for a long time. I cannot be angry about something I do not have the power to change..." He sat next to her and put a hand to her cheek, "But my dear... Dagger..." His voice dropped, "My dear Princess Garnet..." He carefully moved her hair behind her ear, only to have her bangs fall back in front of her face, "I don't want you to get hurt..."

"I know that... But I can't stay cooped up here forever... I cannot just sit by and watch everyone fall! I couldn't control being stripped of my kingdom, but I can control being stripped of my friends...!"

"You are the one who can change the future, Dagger. And though you don't have to be alone while you do it... You are ultimately, the one who will rebuild the world after Kuja falls... You cannot die before that - we can't afford to lose you."

She looked away, looking at the lavender quilt on her bed, stitched together by her own mother, all those years ago. The girl had carried it with her that night, whether in her bag upon her shoulders, or in her arms when she was embraced by her mother she did not know, but it had been with her for as long as she could remember.

"I know there are people who are angry..."

"Just angry? They're furious with me! The only reason they've spoken to me at all is because of Beatrix! I know I made a mistake! I'm very much aware of things I could have done differently..." She turned her head away from her uncle, and this time away from the quilt. "I could have ruined everything..."

"It is not entirely your fault... You needn't worry, Dagger..."

"You can't promise me... Just like no one else can... That things will be okay..."

"You are correct..." He bowed his head, eyes closed, looking older than his real age from the stress of the war. "But I can do my hardest to try..." He nodded and stood, patting the girl on the head. "You are exhausted, Dear... Please, get some rest."

She nodded and watched him go, tilting her head and smiling lightly in the dreary light.

Despite the fact that everyone was telling her they couldn't promise that things would be okay... She felt that with the people around her she did have... Maybe - just maybe - they would turn out to be just fine...

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A/N: NEXT CHAPTER IS EXCITEDNESS! Woooot! Too bad I'm too tired to start it tonight! Sob xD I hope you've enjoyed the chapter and the story for that matter, and that you all keep reading.

Oh and... REVIEW! :D

-zesty-