Post by Zidane Tribal on Oct 26, 2011 23:22:21 GMT -5
This is a post that I needed to do for a long time, for Eiko and Zidane to meet and move along a plot. Since I thread as both characters, I had to turn it into a single post – though a tad rushed – I did so by using the literacy board here.[/size]
You think you see me,,
You like the way I'm strong and stand by you,,
But I am F R A G I L E too,,[/right]Alexandria’s weather was warm, a few clouds in the sky with a soft breeze. Citizens would go about their daily routines: from shopping, to trading, to crafting in their skill. Amongst the crowd a tiny figure would slip around the various figures, yellow bow bouncing each step she took. A moogle with an oddly coloured pompom would be sitting within her overhaul, glancing around in awe at the various sights. How long had it been since these two walked within Alexandrian walls?
Eiko continued onward as her feet lead her to the Alexandrian castle. Alright, the dock-like place she’d have to cross the mote by boat. A soldier would salute, before gaping at the tiny figure. ”Aren’t you…Princess Eiko of Lindblum?” Eiko would give a wide, pearly white smile, and nod her head. Instantly the soldier straightened from her sludge state. !! "We’ll escort you over to the castle right away, Miss..!” With that the tiny summoner, and Mog, would be helped onto the boat and sent off to the castle.
Zidane was bored, currently sitting in the room where Beatrix had awaken Dagger from Kuja’s spell. Of course, the room had modifications since Kuja’s arrival and this is where the blonde found himself hiding – mainly when skipping any sort of lessons he may need. He shifted on a large chair eyes hazily gazing at the three candled structure, in a debate to use the secret passage way as an escape route. He wanted to do something, after all, exciting today. However, already figuring Kuja would expect him to slip away again, Zidane figured not to take his chances. Ever since the masquerade, the monkey boy knew not to test the siren’s nerves. Once more he’d shift his weight, stretching as he tried to stifle a yawn. Before he knew it, the thick wooden door was opened; revealing a soldier and Black Mage. With an arch of his brow, he’d ask. ”Yeah?”
”The Princess of Lindblum is within castle walls, asking for the presence of Lord Zidane.”
Instantly from the soldier’s words, Zidane sprang to his feet before dashing out of the room. Taking a sharp turn, the Genome would dart down the half spiral staircase, before darting forward to the main hallway. His palms collided with the railing roughly, the Genome throwing his weight on the railing. Sky blue eyes glimmered with joy as Zidane released a beam,”Eiko!”
She’d simply raise her gaze to Zidane, her lips spreading into a smile as well. ”About time you get here! It’s soooo rude to keep a lady waiting, you know!” Both would share a laugh before Zidane darted to the main staircase, nearly jumping over the landing to get to his friend. ”How have you been, Lord Zidane?” If she hadn’t heard the rumors, Eiko would assume – like everyone else – the gypsy married Dagger, thus becoming King. However, that wasn’t the case.
”Good, but let’s talk somewhere else, ok?” A simple nod from Eiko was all he needed, before they’d head back up the stairs – Zidane leading her back to the room he just left. Unknown to the blonde, the Persian blue haired girl’s eyes would narrow once passing quite a bit of Black Mages. The way they moved was off from Vivi and the others in the village, as if several of them had yet to awaken. In fact, all of them cleaning as if their lives depended on it made this situation completely off.
Zidane would close the door behind them both, once both were inside the room. Mog instantly spotted something she liked, before flying from Eiko’s overhauls and darting over to the pastry cart. Calmly he’d trail back to the place he had been sitting at, his tail swaying ever slightly. ”So, how have ya been Eiko? Oops, I mean, Princess?” He’d released a laugh, turning to gaze at his friend only to be caught off by her heated gaze. ”Something wrong? If you don’t wanna talk here I could alwa—“
”Spit it out Zidane,” Eiko commanded as arms crisscrossed over her petite form. Lashes fell on narrowing eyes as the summoner challenged the Genome thief, a hint of malice flickering in her gemlike irises. With her jaw locked Eiko hissed through clenched teeth. ”I know who helps rule here.” Eiko was, and still was, far too intelligent for her age, Zidane could never deny that. As he kept silent she’d throw her arms to both sides and she released a rather loud huff, before beginning to pace about the spacious room. Her words remained sharp,”You’re letting Alexandria be at risk! By letting someone horrible like Kuja within castle walls.” Kuja’s name was laced in the deadliest of toxins.
”How could you even begin to believe Dagger would’ve let him in from the start?” Zidane would wince at Eiko’s words. ”He’s done so much to hurt her, Zidane.” The clicking of her soles would fade, the summoner finally halting. Her tiny hands clutched at the fabric over her heart, the six year old falling into silence. ”He’s done so much…and yet…you allow him in Alexandrian walls. Even my Father would smack you for it.”
”Aw, Eiko, I didn’t know you cared,” the gypsy would shake his head. ”But I’m sure you didn’t come here just to lecture me on trusting Kuja.”
Trusting Kuja. By Gaia she wanted to smack Zidane over the head with Mog, and continue smacking until he admitted he was wrong. However, he had been right to know that she came to Alexandria to have a question answered. That only question was driving her up a wall, and probably making her more irritating to others. Once more silence, before the girl shifted uneasily on her feet. ”Actually, yes. There is more. Zidane, I haven’t been to Lindblum yet. I was thrown from it during all this. How is it?” Mog, from the shadows, shuddered at her master’s questioning; already the Holy summon knowing what befell Eiko’s to-be Kingdom.
”Eiko,” a pause. Footfalls echoed against the stones as Zidane stood behind his friend. Bending over and placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder, the thief would swallow hard. For what felt like an eternity they both stood, neither dared to move a muscle or even attempt to breathe. Tension clung to the oxygen, sticking with each inhale like needles, and Zidane felt his breathing becoming strained with each passing second. It wasn’t everyday he had to explain a fall of a great kingdom, mainly when the said kingdom was home to Eiko’s new family. Is it fair to keep her in the dark? But…Eiko needs to know…but… Clearing his throat, his words almost failed him. ”Lindblum…didn’t make it.”
Eiko tensed, Zidane took notice by the raising of her shoulders, and instantly his stomach knotted with guilt. The typical strong in will Eiko fell into ill silence, the Genome fell further into guilt by his tiny friend’s expression. Eyes dilated, wide as possible, with an expression mixed of shock, pain, loss and utter confusion slid past hollowing orbs. Zidane would finally fall to his knees and the previous hand on her shoulder would fall around her waist, attempting to draw her near for an embrace. However, unexpected to Zidane, Eiko shoved his hand away. ”Zidane,” her lips quivered before her body began to tremble like a leaf. ”Does that mean...Father and Mother…are…?”
Zidane let his head hang low, before rolling his shoulders to mock a shrug. ”I donno, Eiko. Cid and Hilda would’ve come to Alexandria but, maybe, they’re in another place looking for you.” A smile was flashed, forced but most wouldn’t notice. ”Yeah! I’m sure of it! They’re out there, right now, lookin’ for you Ei—“
His words would be cut off by a shriek and his tail would bristle instantly in reaction to it. ”No!” She’d turn on her heels, her lashes falling on narrowing eyes, as Eiko would puff her cheeks. Said cheeks were flushed, as tears threatened at her lashes, an indication she was fighting a breakdown. ”They’re not searching, Zidane! They died – like my first family! Stop treating me like a kid! I am not a kid, unlike Vivi! You can tell me the truth, Zidane!”
”Eiko…”
Tension before the breaking of silence. ”Have you searched everywhere, Zidane?” No answer. ”Zidane.” Impatience came within the next cry,”Answer me Zidane!”
”Well…not everywhere,” the truth escaped his lips. Zidane’s throat becoming dryer by the second; as he questioned why Eiko would bother asking that, before grasping she was clinging to any amount of hope she could muster. Something he had to admire about the six year old. She was always putting on a tough act but even an act had to end.
”Then you are wrong,” she hesitated before spilling out her next words. ”Father would never let Lindblum fall easily. He cares for his people too much! He’d never let them die so easily! Never!” Eiko would stomp the floor below to empathize her point. She held a glare, though tears still fought to be shed. ”You’re listening to Kuja’s lies, Zidane! The Zidane I knew never would’ve trusted the man! I’m not gonna give up on my search, unlike you!” Before the monkey boy could ever respond Eiko was taking off out of the room.
Zidane would lower his outstretched arm (that was raised to stop his friend from running), before his sky blue orbs casted over his shoulder. In the shadows stood Mog trembling from the display that just went down before her eyes. The stub for hands hardly held the pastry she was enjoying, her beady coal eyes looking quite hurt. Instantly the golden blonde teen stood before beginning to walk in Mog’s direction. Zidane spoke to the moogle. ”I know, Mog. She didn’t mean what she said, but I can’t let her go running through the castle.” Making his way over to Mog, Zidane would embrace the ball of fuzz. ”I got an idea where she went, and I’ll give her a few before I go get her.” The tiny creature would wiggle against Zidane, burying her head against his chest. ”It’s not your fault, Mog. She just gotta realize I’m not lying.”
He knew she had experienced death before, but the loss of her village and parents came before her time. If memory served right, Eiko had watched her Grandfather pass on – but then even Zidane pondered on how vaguely she remembered the man. However the summoner became a princess now. Zidane’s lashes narrowed, everything Eiko had worked for slipped between her fingertips. From a loving family, to a nation that accepted and adored her, to even the final summoner of Madain Sari that once stood beside them both with pride, grace, and strength fell into the abyss.
Knowing her pain of lacking a home was only half the battle.
There she stood, near the area where Alexander was summoned, staring out into the horizon; she stood ignoring the lingering towered remains of that day. A breeze would cascade through her Persian blue hair, tickling her reddening cheeks teasingly. The strong girl refused to give to her own emotions, pride was all she had left. Releasing a sigh, she’d lower her eyes from the sky before gazing down. What was she thinking? To have the nerves to call Zidane a liar of all things was ridiculous, let alone stating he was believed Kuja’s words! Eiko grasped at her pink turtle neck, lashes falling on narrowing eyes. Though she hated it, she’d have to apologize. Zidane was not the type of man to give in easily – or to give up at all. If he couldn’t find Lindblum…did she, honestly, have hope?
”I thought you’d be here,” Zidane’s words broke her brooding. Removing herself from the stone wall, Eiko would let her gaze land to Zidane. His lips would hold his genuine smile as he approached from the stone staircase; how could he make her heart still miss a beat? She wouldn’t bother moving, not even when he knelt down before her small form. ”Did you get enough t—“ Sky blue orbs dilated with shock as tiny arms wove around his neck, drawing in for an embrace.
Her apologize came soft, along with a sob. ”Sorry.” Zidane’s eyes would soften, his lips falling to a frown as she buried her head in his chest; already her tears soaking through both layers of clothe. There wasn’t a need for an apology, but he would tell her when she calmed. The Genome would embrace the tiny girl, allowing her to lean closer, before rubbing her back like a mother comforting a child.
”Eiko,” the typical chirp a mere whisper. ”You’re welcomed to stay here in Alexandria.” Gently he’d push her back before taking his right hand to tilt her head, allowing her to face him. Zidane swallowed hard at the glassy orbs as tears continued to roll, the girl holding back anymore wails. ”You could share a room with Mikoto for tonight, or take my room. Please, Eiko, stay here. You and Mog need a home.”
Tears continued to fall, as the tiny summoner buried her face once more. As Zidane released light coos, she’d whisper. ”Yes, we’d like to stay here for a bit.” She’d shift her weight before speaking louder,”I wanna stay, Zidane.” He’d flash a warm smile to her answer, but would fall silent with her next words. ”But if I were to take your room…where would you sleep?” She wouldn’t need his answer, the scent he carried on his clothes gave the answer. Would Dagger truly be happy with Zidane’s choice?
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