Filling In The Blanks

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX or any of its characters.

Chapter 61: Love Letters and Flowers

Zidane's eyes eventually got used to the sun staring him down. The wind was sturdier at this height, not being blocked by all of the brick buildings and warm bustling bodies below. He leaned on the bell behind him – long ago abandoned after a crack adorned its side from weather.

Every so often, he spotted doves in his peripheral vision, landing somewhere close behind him, taking refuge in the shade and vines that stuck to the small tower. He knew he was completely alone up here, and if he kept very still, the doves wouldn't be frightened and fly off.

The blonde inwardly sighed. He'd been up there for more than half the day. His pathetic claim about rediscovering the city had somehow gone unchallenged, though he hadn't done much of that yet. Sure, it was easier to see everything up there, but he wasn't thinking about Lindblum at all…

"Give Dagger a choice…"

That's what Lysandra had told him. He smiled fondly when he realized that it was easy for even strangers to figure out that he loved Dagger. The thief fell in love with the Princess – how original. But it was more than that… At this point in the game, he was as much a thief as she was a princess… It was in his nature, in his blood, and yet – it seemed trivial and was just a stupid title.

What the woman had said was true… Though they might have found happiness in each other during war, Lysandra had wished Nathan didn't love her – that she didn't love him. It left too much out in the open, and no matter how hard you prepared, you'd never be ready for gut wrench of heart break. Dagger didn't deserve that…

"You're asking me to kind of… dump her?"

And so he was left with his decision. He knew what he should do. He knew he should let her go, and tell her to do the same. Even in death, it would break his heart to know she'd never smile again, or grace the world with her laugh, or do things that made her Dagger.

"I think you should tell her what your heart says… But I think you should never trap someone into a commitment with the times of war…"

Was she trapped? Was he trapped also? You're looking at it wrong if you think you're trapped when you're in love… His mind tried to reason with him. And yet he had this gnawing feeling that she was right.

But how? How to tell Dagger in a way that she'd understand? Instantly, his mind thought to tell her that he loved her. But why would he do that? He'd be trying to get the girl to move on and spilling that for only the second time really wouldn't be the right way to do it.

But he didn't want to die while his last words to the girl being that he didn't love her. He didn't want her to live on with that heartbreak, because he knew no matter how hard he tried to shake it, Zidane telling her that would stick with her forever, because he wouldn't be there to tell her the truth.

He groaned, letting his head lull forward until his chin was resting on his collarbone. This dying business was a real pain in the ass.

"You've been up here for a long time…"

Zidane had been sitting with his feet dangling over the dangerous ledge of the balcony. One ill movement, and he could have been paint splattered on the cobblestone. Especially considering if he looked right down, there was a group of children – well that probably wouldn't have ended so well.

His hands tightened around the railing and he flailed about in surprise, whipping around to see a woman standing behind him, her large billowing dress scrunched between the mossy wall and the ancient bell.

"Where did you come from?!" He demanded with exasperation. One of his hands clutched at his chest, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

"I saw you from over there…" She had a small, amused grin on her face as she pointed a delicate and poised hand to his left, and when his eyes finally landed on the spot she was pointing, he nodded.

Another balcony a little bit lower than the watch and bell tower he sat upon, with full view of the city, and an even fuller view of his perch.

"Of course," he smiled at her politely, but didn't know what else to say. Why was she here?

"You look troubled," she told him, leaning forward slightly, her hands crossed in front of her waist.

"I've got a lot on my mind," he sighed, leaning against the golden bell.

The woman wasted no time in taking a seat on the stone ledge, leaning against the support beam. He wanted to tell her that probably wasn't safe, but she seemed to know what she was doing.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Who are you again?" He asked her almost immediately after she'd finished. He knew he sounded rude, and it wasn't like him, but there was something about a woman noticing him from halfway across the city, and then proceeding to come ask him why he was troubled that just seemed… off to him.

She smiled, "My name isn't important."

He narrowed his eyes at her, leaning towards her slightly. "You might be someone I don't want to talk to," though he wore a dazzling smile, she knew he was being serious.

"If you do not push for mine, I will not push for yours," she hesitated for a moment, seeing if he would catch on. Before he had the chance to react, however, she continued, "You name might trigger a… recognition that I don't want to report."

His lips puckered. So she knew who he was, but as long as he didn't press for details about her, she would stay silent about him? It was risky, but seemed fair. He voiced this and she let out a lady-like, chiming laugh.

"Now, about your troubles?" She asked after she sobered up. A grin was still apparent on her face as he sighed.

"There's this girl…"

"Ooo!" She squealed, clapping her hands together daintily. The lines around her eyes crinkled, showing she was older than she looked when she stared at him with a poised expression. "That is so exciting! I haven't heard about things like this in years!"

He glanced at her being. Her dress was embellished with shining gold thread, glittering beads, and a fine, fresh silk. Her long, thin blonde hair was curled up to her head, held together with gold combs sparkling with rhinestones and jewels. Her eyelashes were thick, and her face was powdered. Her hands adorned little white gloves, the sheen of satin glinting off of them in the sun. She didn't look poor. Did she not speak with people?

"Continue!" She ushered him, an excited flame dancing in her eyes.

"I love her," before he could say much more, she was squealing and cooing again. It took a few moments for her to clear her throat and beckon him to continue again. "But times are…" he chewed his lip. What to say to not give too much away? After all, though he was positive she knew who exactly she was talking to, technically she didn't. "Rough," he decided on, "And I don't know if I should hold her down, tied to me… when… something could happen…"

A tender look crossed her face. It was brief, and she immediately masked her expression – expertly, he might have added – but for that fleeting moment, it was genuine, and it peaked his interest. It's like she knew exactly what she was talking about.

"My dear," she spoke, all traces of humor leaving her voice, as ounces of wisdom flooded into her tone. "You are so young…" She reached out a hand, as to grasp his hand in comfort, but thought better of it, and settled it awkwardly in her lap. "There is no need for you to be thinking these things… Let what will happen, happen! Do not think so much on choices… Sometimes, if you wait just long enough, the right decision will come to you after no thought at all."

He let on a half smile. He didn't know who this woman was, but she was right. He was thinking too much about what to say to Dagger, simply because Lysandra, though knowledgeable in most things, overanalyzed the situation, passing it onto the blonde.

"Thanks… That helped a lot… I think."

She smiled again at him. "You remind me so much of someone I knew!"

"Who?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

Those lines of age were back when she laughed her ringing giggle. She pressed her hands together in a certain classy immaturity – like she was acting so many years younger than her real age.

"He was such a smart man. And a lady's man too! Oh, I would get so mad at him… but every time he'd come home with a bouquet of flowers and a sheepish expression on his face, and I just – oh I couldn't say no! He was fun and fleeting and made me feel like I was not confined to this city we're in now…"

"Where is he now?" despite himself, Zidane was grinning.

"Oh long gone. Whether with another woman, or passed with war and age, I'll never know!" She shrugged, a sort of mourning smile tugging on her lips now. "But that's why I live to help the young! I strive for them to partake in such a better life. Perhaps their loved ones won't be so fleeting if I can give them the right advice."

"You sound like you do well," He praised, though he wasn't sure why he had.

"Exceptionally," she winked, and he had to laugh. There was nothing arrogant about her simple answer, and he figured that's why he found it so enlightening.

Her gaze swept over the city and she sighed, rising from her perch. "I suppose I should be going…" She shot him a sideways glance, "You should too! Though the dark is just as beautiful as the light, I think some might miss your company…" She winked, indicating it was unknowingly Dagger she was talking about.

Her words caused him to rise, and he was grinning despite his situation. He stared over the city once more, not realizing how long he'd spent talking to this mysterious woman. The sun was hanging low on the horizon now, a few buildings creating a huge contrast, already absorbed in front of the light.

His thoughts floated from one thing or another, but he found, in this majestic sort of view, he couldn't hold onto one thought for very long. When he turned around, what he thought was seconds later, he found the woman was long gone.

Before he knew to stop himself, his eyes slid to the large but lower balcony she had told him about earlier. He saw pinpricks of figures moving across it, close to the white railing that served as protection from everything below… but he wasn't sure if one of them was her or not.

Feeling as though his decision was made when actually he had gotten nowhere, he swung down below the bell, and started his trek down the rickety old staircase that had brought him so high in the first place.


"Sally said she'd talk to the others," Steiner said finally when he emerged from the building. He had lingered inside, wanting to ask her a few more questions.

Baku nodded, though didn't say anything. The knight decided that the pilot had a lot in his thoughts – being back in his own city. He sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets, before turning around. He was in his armored pants and a large shirt, his helmet shucked, due to suspicions. Baku looked much the same – lucky that everybody around here wore leather and cloth like Tantalus did.

"Where's Fratley?" Steiner asked suddenly, turning around. The Bermecian was prone to vanish, but he didn't think he'd be gone directly after talking to Sally.

"He wandered away. I don't blame him," Baku chuckled, "I've done the same damn thing a few times, but reminded myself to come back because you were still chattin' that woman up."

Steiner's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed, "I wasn't –"

Baku burst into a hearty laugh and slapped Steiner on the back, "I was giving you shit, Steiner… There's no reason to get your panties in a bunch!"

His face reddened – whether from embarrassment or anger, Baku didn't know, "My –"

"Don't even say what you're going to say," the man warned him, a chortle still in his voice. He began to move, not to be bothered if Steiner chose not to follow.

"Where are you going?" He demanded instead.

Baku shrugged, "We're done with our work today… The only way we'll know if there are people in Lindblum who want to help us, is if Sally gets back to us," He grinned, "I don't know about you, but I'm going to get a drink. Lindblum has the best ale –"

Steiner debated before following the Tantalus leader. He easily fell in step next to him, thinking that maybe Baku was right, and maybe he could take a break for a bit.

Fratley was nowhere near that train of thought. All he could think about was Freya, and the fact that she had advanced on ahead to Qu's Marsh, waiting for their business to be over in the city. These precious times they actually had together and each had thought it for the better if they split up. It had been a last minute decision, but she insisted Fratley stay with the main team. He could do more things here with persuasion, than he could in the marsh.

And yet, his thoughts still wrapped around her, and a time that seemed very long ago that he had been in Cleyra, searching for a ring. He'd known since he was young – since before the war had started – that he wanted to be with Freya forever. But back then they were too young, back then he wasn't sure if she was ready to be committed in her mind, even though those are the words she spoke. And then the war started, and neither thought it appropriate to share such times of happiness when there were royals to protect, and lives to save.

Now, in another city – one that he knew wouldn't get torn to pieces before he could get a ring, he searched, eyes wondering to the signs hanging idly above shops, hoping to spot some sort of jewelry store. Women still splurged on jewelry in times of war, right? Somebody had to…

"Fratley!" He jumped and spun on his heel when he saw Zidane standing behind him, his head tilted to the side. "What are you doing wandering around?"

"I could say the same to you," he chuckled, waiting for the blonde to catch up to him.

"I've just been using the day to think and settle in…" He shrugged, "It's weird being back here."

Fratley nodded, "It is strange being out in the open…"

They stood in silence for a moment, Fratley glanced at Zidane's dagger. Unbeknownst to the genome, Fratley had, countless times before, scoped out his dagger, staring at the glinting red ruby in the middle of it.

"Say, I have a question for you, Zidane…" Fratley mumbled, speaking before he really knew what he was saying.

"Shoot," the blonde encouraged, a grin on his face. It's like he just knew what Fratley was going to say.

"Where did the ruby come from on your dagger?"

He glanced down at it, eyes locking in on the shining jewel. Zidane's eyes slid back to Fratley's, who tried to act nonchalant, but his curiosity peaked through too much.

"This?" He unsheathed it and showed it to Fratley closer, who examined it in the open now. "Freya gave it to me when we were very young…" He chuckled at the Bermecian's expression. "But you must have known that."

"I had an underlying suspicion…" He chuckled, not at all bothered that she'd given away the jewel. "But I had to be sure."

"You gave it to her," It wasn't a question – Freya had discussed it with Zidane before.

They started walking again as Fratley explained it to him, though his eyes never stopped searching for a jewelry store.

"It was my mother's ruby…" He nodded, "My family was poor. My father was a knight, but not a well known one – at least not yet… They were struggling to make something of themselves, and my father saved for a long time to buy my mother a ring. In the center was that ruby."

Zidane stared down at it, his eyebrows raising. It was so big, but then considering how big a Bermecian's hand, was he decided to just listen to Fratley's story, instead of analyzing it.

"He told her it was for a sense of security – that there was someone that cared about her, who was always with her through that ruby… When I grew from a child to adult, my mother passed it on to me, promising me the same sense of security. She said someday the time will come when I will pass it to another. It was very soon after I met Freya that I intended on giving her the ruby someday, and it seems, she felt that you needed a sense of security from someone as well…" He trailed, glancing at Zidane who tried to soak up all the information.

He finally nodded after a block of silence. "Yeah… I met Freya after my parents had been killed..."

Fratley smiled, "So like her…" He stopped in front of a store, and both of them glanced up at the sign, seeing the faded word Jewelry across the top above the store name and logo.

"Why are we here?" Zidane questioned, following his superior inside.

There weren't many people, and all of the cases were old and rickety. The floorboards creaked, and the front counter was rotting away. Both of them peered into the first case they could get to, and saw that despite the rugged appearance of the rest of the store – the jewels they were selling were beautiful. Each glittered in the light every way that you moved – some different colors and sizes, but all equally as astonishing.

"Welcome!" There was a voice from behind the counter. He was a dog-like creature with pointy ears – very similar to Zenero, but his hair was graying and his clothes were worn; he was much older than that Tantalus member. "My, it's been such a long time since I've seen younger faces! How may I be of service?"

Both of them stood there before Zidane gave Fratley a little nudge. He stepped forward, a rare uncertainty in his expression.

"Hello," he said a little shyly. "I'm looking for a ring."

The creature behind the counter brought a delighted expression to his face as he danced out from behind the counter. "A ring! Like an engagement ring?!"

Zidane gasped, finally hooking all the pieces together. "You're going to propose to Freya?!"

"Oh my!" he clutched at his heart, and his smile widened. "Now that is the first time in a long time in this war I've heard such words! Congratulations!"

Fratley let on a mild smile, "Thank you…"

"We'll start right away," the man nodded, determined. "First of all, what kind of stone would you like to put into it?"

Fratley bit his lip. He hadn't the slightest idea about Freya's taste in jewelry. In a weapon store, he could pick out a spear that she would use until it broke, or armor that she would treasure for protection for the next ten years until he bought her something different. He could pick out the types of food she liked, and spells that she could learn… but jewelry?

Zidane stepped forward. "Fratley, why don't you use the ruby?"

He whipped around, and both him and the shop keeper stared at him in confusion.

The genome pulled out his dagger quickly with excitement. The man jumped a little, and patted his sweating face with a handkerchief. Fratley peered closer.

"Could you take this ruby, and put it in a ring for a Bermecian?"

The dog like creature stepped forward, adjusting his glasses closer to his eyes, leaning close to get a better look. "Hmm… I suppose – maybe if I shave it down a little on the corners –" he prodded it gently, "or perhaps cut it here, and then…" he trailed a little, looking at it from all angles. "Yes! I could do that!"

"Really?!" Both said at once, staring with excited shock at the shop keeper.

He nodded, "When would you like it done by?"

"As soon as you can," Fratley said, his voice high with enthusiasm. "We might not be in town for a long time…"

"Well depending on what else you'd like on the ring, I could have it done within a week…"

"Perfect!" He cried. Then he settled down and thought for another moment. "Could I perhaps… draw you what I wish for the ring to look like?"

He blinked, his eyes considerably larger when he peaked through the lenses. It was quiet for a moment, a pregnant pause passing between them. "Well I don't see why not!" Zidane and Fratley whooped for a brief moment, "But if it's too elaborate, it might not turn out exactly the same!"

"Don't worry… she likes simple… and what I have in mind is definitely something she'd like…"

"Perfect then!" He led the two over to the counter and pulled out a quill and some parchment. "Get to it then, my friend!" He laughed, rolling the supplies over to Fratley.

"Freya is going to love it…" he murmured, his mother's own engagement ring visible in his mind.


It had been a long time since she'd seen stars. They flickered in the night sky as a rare peace enveloped the city. She sighed and leaned on the bridge, taking in the gentle sound of water somewhere below her. The canal that ran through the city reminded her of the babbling stream next to Dali.

Even though the excitement of the new black mage, who decided on the name Oden, had died down, everyone was still inside, explaining exactly what was going on in the world. She reckoned she'd never seen Vivi that excited in her life.

As much as she wanted to be involved, Ruby couldn't sit through the war stories. She'd been hearing them for years, and right now, all she wanted to do was reel in the fact that she was back in her real home, and there wasn't a splinter of danger in her direct line of sight.

The breeze was cooler and stronger by the bridge, the openness of the canal letting air sweep through easier. She closed her eyes and felt her muscles relaxing as her ears picked up on the sounds around her.

"What are you doing out here alone?" Her keen sense of hearing never picked up on his arrival, and she jumped.

"Dear lord, Blank! Don't you be scarin' me like that!"

He gave a sheepish grin, before leaning on the stone railing next to her, "Sorry," the redhead shrugged.

There were several moments of silence before she finally answered. "It's quiet, an' relaxin'."

"I can tell…" He nodded, "It feels like home." She nodded, still not really looking at him since he'd joined her. "Oh…" He mumbled, refusing to glance in her direction as he shifted. "I got this for you today…"

Almost as if it appeared out of thin air by his side, he lifted his hand to reveal an orange rose. He shrugged, shifting his weight as she stared at him in mild shock. "I know you like the yellow ones, but they were all sort of dead…" He poked at the petals, a sort of grudging look overtaking his face. "I mean, this one is sort of wilted too, but I just thought –"

He was interrupted when Ruby's lips crashed into his, silencing him in one sweep.

They stayed like that for a long time, her arms slowly snaking around his neck, and his arms eventually securing around her waist. Two years younger than her, Ruby never imagined herself in this situation over a year ago, but slowly somehow, the redhead had grown on her, and she felt she needed to do everything she could to protect and be with him.

War was a cruel thing. It ripped people apart as she'd seen with all of her friends' real family and prior relationships… But when they still had time, the girl knew making it count was the one thing she could do.


A/N: Well I figured everyone hadn't seen Ruby and Blank in a while, so I had to throw that list tid-bit in! That wasn't where I thought I would end the chapter, but it seemed like a nice little spot.

I hope you all enjoyed!

-zesty-