0Filling In The Blanks
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 9 or any of its characters
A/N: Sorry for the lack of update (saying this due to my last chapter) but :) I hope you all are enjoying the story… I have a job now (yay!) so updates may be hard to come by but I promise I won't give up and it'll try and be every week still! :D
Chapter 28: Stutter
"What do you suggest I do?" The man's voice slipped into the deadly silence, causing the girl to stand just a little bit straighter.
"I think you need to go to the occurrences yourself…" She confirmed, "Considering how many times the dreamers have escaped you before due to guards' pitiful lack of intelligence and cleverness, someone with power and fear invoked in people… someone like you, should go…" She nodded, walking to the balcony's edge and wrapping her slender fingers around the edge, feeling the velvet leaves beneath her.
She watched the landscape, and knew far off in the distance, Dali had been wiped off the map… They were all a bunch of traitors – rule was calm and peaceful when Alexandria was still green and standing, and every single one of these people in the resistance, even he had blown that by trying to resist, and trying to break free, when there was nothing to break free of…
"You're definitely someone who knows strategy… This is the reason I keep you so high in command you know…" His lips curled into a small smile, "I think I'll be leaving if I hear one more thing about the difficulties in Terra at the moment… No doubt if that rat dreamer is there, resistance members of the boat load will not be far off…"
"He wouldn't go alone," She decided, knowing him well enough, flicking her wavy hair from her face, "He would be too scared of death… Too scared something would go wrong…"
"You still think so? Even after he risked his freedom, and the ratty Princess' life to save the little one?"
"I believe he puts on a front…" She snarled, hands balling tighter around the wood; the thought of him made her infuriated, though she didn't particularly know why…
He's a traitor, so why should she care about his personality anymore?
"I see…" He nodded and clasped his feminine hands behind his back, "We'll catch him…" Another cruel smile grew upon his lips, "And make him wish he never resisted Lord Kuja."
The blonde woman could only nod in agreement, head too far lost in future thoughts.
What would she do when he was right in front of her again, confused and lost as to why they were no longer on the same side?
?
"You know you are not going to get word from them until they create a crash landing site near the place we first set up at, right?"
The voice startled her, and she turned to see Freya walked towards her, tail swishing behind her long, slender body.
"I'm just making sure I'll be able to see when they come home…" Dagger retorted calmly, turning her eyes towards the sky once more.
Instead of reprimanding her once more, the Bermecian walked to her side, and also tilted her head back, icy colored eyes glinting in the sunlight. There was one thing that was bothering Freya about Dagger lately…
But she didn't have enough time to finish thinking about what it was. "Freya?"
"Mm?" She answered, not saying anything more.
"Is this what it felt like when you were awaiting Sir Fratley's return?"
The rat-like creature was quiet for a long moment, listening to the breeze tickle the grass, hearing the natural laughter of Gaia, and the sound of her friends and teammates far behind them – further than Dagger's ears could reach out to, "Intensified…" She decided at last.
"Excuse me?"
"I've been awaiting for Fratley, wondering if he would be alright where he was, for a long span of time…" She shook her head, trying to see the situation from Dagger's point of view, "But then again… I did not watch him leave on a suicide mission…"
Suddenly Dagger's face scrunched up, and she turned away, breath caught in her throat. Perhaps the blunt things Freya had said had upset her, but she needed to know that from here on out, things could not be sugar coated.
Oh yes… She suddenly figured out her answer, it's the fact she has never told the Bronson newcomer of her friends far away… Rather – of Zidane…
That was quite the reason she had been so bothered by the man's constant desire to be around the girl for support – more so than considering he was an Alexandrian knight who clung to his leader much like Steiner… This was different though…
She had taken an immediate liking to Zidane, and though he pressed for her attention, definitely did not step over the line… And, Freya had to add, there was no other man that was teetering on the horizon of a relationship with the young girl… Bronson seemed like the resistance's very own Casanova… Uh oh…
But the Bermecian decided it was not her place to lecture the girl, and continued to stay quiet, unless asked another question. It didn't last long.
"Do you think it's a suicide mission, Freya?" The question was so small and shaken, she was sure it was from Vivi instead of Dagger…
"I think…" She took in a breath, debating if she should really tell the young girl her true feelings on the matter, "You should just think positively… They'll bring Zidane back…" Dead or alive? That was a different issue… They would at least have the decency to get the body though… But Dagger didn't need to know that's what she meant.
"Garnet!" A strong, masculine voice rang beautifully through the shuffle of leaves and rustling of bushes, "Garnet, are you out here?"
She turned, and almost unwillingly sucked in a breath, "I'm here!" She called back.
That was Freya's cue to leave – she didn't want to see the man more than she had to. With a nod to the raven haired girl, she jumped, feeling the wind rush back upon her skin and through her clothing, and watched for a moment as she stayed suspended in the air, as people dotted the landscape below.
And finally, when she felt the wind catch the cloth wrapped around her, she began to maneuver herself away from the couple.
?
"Why are you so shy? You're weird!" She decided with a final head nod, and crossed her arms, before moving away with a "hmph!"
He blinked his blazing yellow eyes in confusion, and pulled his hat tighter onto his head. Turning away a little reluctantly, he wandered off, hoping to find salvation in someone he could trust… someone he could… talk to, and feel like he could relate to…
"Steiner…" He called out quietly (yes that's a joke kiddies lol), causing the man to turn around and let on a soft grin.
"Ahh! Master Vivi! What can I help you with tonight?"
"Do you…" He thought for a moment, trying to recall the girl's words, "think I'm… weird?"
The man stopped, highly confused by this random act, and tilted his head. Blinking a few times, he parroted, "weird?" the word tasted foreign on his tongue.
"Eiko thinks I'm weird…" He explained, as though it was simple, but it still confused him.
Steiner chewed his lip. Zidane would probably understand the black mage quite a bit better, and though he would never admit it, he wasn't the best with relationships…
After all, it took him over a decade to get a relationship started with Beatrix. "Uhh…" He began, suddenly plopping down on the ground, and inviting the young mage to sit next to him.
"Girls are…" He tried to recall the right words, "special." Maybe that wasn't it, but he would go with it.
"Special?"
"See… They have it in their minds, that yes means no, maybe means no, and no means later… And they also have it in their minds, with that simple equation, that all of their actions have to follow that… For example… Eiko harassing you… That's a 'no' or a 'maybe' if she's sometimes nice, or not completely nasty. You have a fifty-fifty shot with this, now listen up Master Vivi…" He smirked triumphantly; he finally had it figured out.
"Since maybe means no, then that means she's not interested, but since it was a very blunt no, because she was mean to you, that means that you might have a shot at her saying yes!" He laughed, "Does that make sense?"
"Umm…" Vivi traced a leaf with a twig in the musky dirt.
"Great!" Steiner exclaimed, jumping up, "I have to get back to my duties now, Master Vivi! But it was wonderful that I could help!" Ha! Take that Zidane…
As the now-chipper man almost danced away, Vivi shook his head, "You didn't even answer my question… I just wanted to know if you thought I was weird…" He sighed, and stared at the ground, dejected.
"Vivi?" This time, a very feminine voice caught his attention, and when he looked up, he spotted chestnut locks bouncing towards him. Beatrix gave him a small, sheepish, but amused smile, "Do you want some advice?"
"Yeah…" He thought perhaps she could help him.
"Don't listen to a thing Steiner says, okay?" Smiling then, she walked away, still leaving him in his thoughts, and keeping him in the dark about if he was weird or not…
?
"Do you think this war will ever be over?" He asked her, walking as close as possible without causing her suspicions to be aroused.
She thought for a moment, "As someone looking forward to rebuilding a future for her people, I would say yes, I do believe that someday it will end…" Dagger decided with a nod.
"Do you think we'll win then?" Bronson questioned, letting his fingers wisp past hers, leaving a ghostly prickle across her skin.
"I think if things go according to plan…"
"And what is the plan?"
"You have not been around long enough to figure it out," she teased, a smile tugging at her lips. He could only laugh with her – the conversation staying light. "We're in the process of figuring something out."
"Oh? It seems all of your people are here…"
She laughed, though it did not reach her eyes. Her long, dark lashes shadowed her porcelain cheekbones as her eyes settled downcast.
"It seems someone you're very close to is away…"
"Well…" She drew her lips into a thin line, before sighing and watching the calm path before her. "As you know, my team consists of Beatrix, Steiner," She thought for a moment, and decided she would count on her fingers, though never stopped moseying along the path, "Quina –"
"Who I have yet to meet…" He added with a grin; she ignored him for the most part, besides a simple smile.
"Freya, Vivi and occasionally a few others… But there are two more you haven't met…"
"Who would they be?"
"Two of them, both previously on a different team, before I met them… One's name is Blank – he's a short redhead with a hot temper, and he is probably my best friend…"
"Interesting…" Bronson commented lightly, urging her to continue.
"And then there's the second dreamer… Zidane…"
"You have both dreamers in your group? Impressive… If only I had had that kind of power a few years ago…"
"Only see…" She explained, "They awoke from their sleep by themselves… Kuja hadn't woken them – they seemed to come out of it by themselves… It's like…" She kicked at the dirt, arousing the dust, trying to think of a way to explain it. "A strong smelling food… You're eating something you love already, but then…" She laughed at her own silliness, "You smell something familiar, that you think you used to love, but can't quite remember. And as long as you're eating that other food, the scent of the memory never leaves, until finally you go and seek out this food…"
"So what you're telling me, is that the food represents their memory… And the memory of the real world was too strong in them – so strong in fact, that they awoke, and realized the other world was fake…"
"Well – that part had to be explained… And that's just my theory – I could be very wrong…"
"Tell me about this Zidane…" He coaxed, suddenly not interested in her food analogy any longer.
"He's funny and charming, and he would do anything – I mean anything for his friends… He's missing some you know… Friends he had in the dream world…"
"Those would be all dreams…" The blonde stated pointedly.
"He met Vivi in the dream world…" She fired back, trying to make her point heard. "He's driven crazy by the fact that they're still under Kuja's clutches… But the sad part is – he has no idea if those friends he used to be so close to, were real or not…"
"That does seem like an awful pity… Has he tried to figure it out?"
"He did…" She spoke quietly then, "But it almost cost a few people their lives… And I revealed to Kuja that the Princess was still alive by using a summoning…"
The man whistled, shoving his hands into his pockets, "This character – I don't like the sounds of him…"
She laughed, "Do not be silly…"
"You know, Garnet?"
"Hmm?" She smiled pleasantly, listening to the sounds of nature she missed since they had fled Dali.
"Do you ever wonder if he's perhaps…" He dropped the tone of his voice so only she could hear – not even the moaning trees could reach out to listen, "a spy?"
"What?" She squeaked, smothering a laugh, "No way!"
"He seems to have done an awful lot to give you guys away…"
"Zidane used to be an actor, but Bronson, he wouldn't do that… His emotions are too real…" Though as she thought about this doubtful possibility, the way he had kissed her, and talked to her – protected her, seared through her heart with a dawning pain.
"Well there you go… The man knows how to act… I'm just saying for your safety…" Suddenly, in one bold movement, he swept his hand in hers. "You need someone who can protect you…"
A blush embedded itself on her cheeks, and she hesitated to pull away. But finally, her rational side took hold of her, and she pulled her hand away, "Believe what you like, but even the ones who hate him here, definitely know he's not a spy…"
The man was silent, refusing to agree with her. The hum of nature started again, unaware of them now as their presence lacked words. "I will protect you, Garnet…" He grasped her hand again, but only for a moment this time, "You have my word…"
She didn't think of it at the time, as anything more than an oath all had silently taken about each other… With a roll of her eyes, she started forward again, oblivious to the deeply run meaning of the words, rooted into the man now.
She really wanted Zidane to come home soon… Company with Bronson was becoming too gloomy…
?
"You're nervous, I can tell…"
"How so?" He asked, skeptical.
"We're pretty much related, Zidane…" She faintly smiled, though her eyes were set in the distance, distracted.
"I'm scared this isn't going to work… Everything will be for nothing, and people will get hurt."
"It's a sacrifice everyone is willing to make for you… I knew that the moment I found out about you guys… Actually – even since I met you…" She turned slightly towards him, so he could only see half of her face, "We'll be okay…" She nodded.
"When are they going to get here?" He questioned.
"There are quite a few people who heard about it, who want in…" She nodded slowly, "I told them to arrive as soon as half the sun was behind the horizon…"
He watched as slowly, sunlight was extracted from the greens and oddities of the land, that were so unlike the Mist and Outer Continents.
His ears prickled after a few more moments, and he could hear the quiet murmur of gossip sweeping up the rooftop by the wind. He smirked, as he could tell that there were more than just a couple people walking in the small group, ready to become part of something devastating.
And when they reached the top and saw him, they stopped – eyes wide, and jaws dropped. Seeing Mikoto with a dreamer must have put them in awe, because no one moved for several moments, until finally, the blonde cleared his throat.
"Hey…" He said simply, and that word alone seemed to inspire them.
All of them cheered in a hushed manner, grinning, and pleased with themselves for having the guts to make it up that hill and to seek their connection to the resistance.
Mikoto spoke to them, seemingly knowing almost all of them personally, "The other members will be joining us soon…" Her eyes swept over each and every face that stood before her, "Everyone… This is Zidane… He is our…" A rare grin grew on her face, "make or break object… In the war, and with this plan…"
He sighed, and scratched the back of his neck, almost shyly. He hated having that kind of pressure put on him, but it seemed as though he was just born to have it placed there. Though when he himself glanced at their faces, an expression of hope blossomed over them like the first day of Spring after a fresh rain… His eyes widened slightly, as he suddenly realized just how much of a beacon he was in this fighting world.
Suddenly, he had every urge to do better…
"Zidane, this is Frelly…" She first introduced him to a fat moogle, whose neck tuft of hair was grey instead of cream. He took of his hat, sliding it over the red ball connected to his head, and seemingly grinned, bending down in a bow.
"I'm honored to meet you!" He squeaked, stepping back respectively.
"This is Trari," a young woman with long auburn hair and stunning sapphire eyes stepped forward. Her face held the tired lines of someone who had experienced much, but her azure orbs still burned with wisdom past her years, and a will of fire to fight.
"A pleasure," she answered coolly, her swift, melodic, though sweet and soprano voice created an almost delectable mix.
"Those two blonde in the back are Gip and Rej…" They moved forward and shook his hand, obviously very pleased to meet him.
She continued on the list, but he could tell that those four were the most excited to be there. He learned later that Frelly was the fix it moogle – there wasn't a broken thing in the world who wouldn't cower back in his presence.
Trari was the illusionist. She was slick and careful, stealth in even her shadow. She held the high intelligence, and held more control over magic than Vivi was capable of, though it was a different kind… An illusionist was someone who basically could do magic tricks – just far more complicated, and dangerous as well…
Gip and Rej were the fighters. Gip, with his emerald green eyes, and Rej with his chocolate brown, both finished each others sentences, and were pretty friendly – they would fit in with the resistance just fine.
Once the rest of the crew arrived, all of the official things were gone over with the resistance. They didn't include any specific information, as who knew just who they were – even Mikoto didn't know that much about them. They were also informed of all of the high up people who were involved in the resistance (except of course, Cid himself), and much more.
Baku was proud to be the temporary leader of so many, and he felt his duty to make sure they all didn't mess up their first plan. "Alright… Gip – I want you to play the role of Zidane… Our story is that we're training in new talent, and there's going to be an interesting spin on the play, perhaps including identity theft, or disease – we aren't sure yet…" They all murmured in agreement, though those who originally acted in the play could only roll their eyes.
"Trari, you will play the obvious role of Ruby. I know you don't look much like her, but you're both tall and skinny, and if you're as good at illusions as you say you are – you'll be able to match her appearance, and voice, and also help along everyone else as well." The girl nodded, not too interested in talking it over; she was ready to get the job done now.
"Rej, you're going to play Blank… Trari, you're going to definitely need to help with this appearance, because Rej isn't a ginger –"
"Hey! It's not orange, it's red!" Blank growled, crossing his arms in a pissed off mood.
"And Blank is a midget compared to you." The boy said nothing, only leaned back and glared, "And Frelly, I want you to play the King – simply because you're going to have to do a lot of behind the scene sort of stuff…"
He assigned Marcus's roll to someone else as well, warning them that Marcus' role was not only hard to play – but also dangerous too. Shaking his head, he also gave Zenero's part away, not forgetting about how much he wished to help the crew.
It wouldn't provide Zidane with a lot of back up, but hopefully, it would be enough to ensure his safety…
He g lanced around at everyone, his eyes stony hard, "You guys listen to me…" Baku ordered, causing them all to turn and stare, "This isn't going to be a cake walk… And if any of you stupid shits want to get out alive, you better damn well learn your lines, and what to do… And know what kind of line of action to use if someone attacks the play."
Suddenly, Baku was more inspirational than he ever had been, "If we can pull this off… We're going to gain the advantage in the war, and finally stop this whole son of a bitch war…"
His words sunk in, and everyone was realizing for the first time, just how important those words were…
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A/N: Oh my god! It's been forever since I"ve updated! I'm so sorry! But I got major writer's block and just got so busy! I'm sorry! Bleh, you guys must hate me! Anyways, I'm going to bed after this I'm tired, so I apologize for any mistakes I made in the story… I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
-zesty-
