Deja Vu

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Characters: Locke and Celes
Summary: TBD
Location: Figaro Castle
Date: Later in the evening after Locke arrived
Warnings: None~

Locke waits for everybody to settle in for the night. It was too loud and noisy that evening to really talk to Celes. It had always been much easier out in the fields by the fire after everyone else had went to bed. But before talking to her, he had something he needed to do.

He disappears out of the castle for a few minutes searching for just the right combination of flowers. It's important that he picks the right ones. It takes him longer than expected as he carefully chooses the perfect spot for each one. After completing the bouquet, he can't believe how familiar it looks to him. Unbeknownst to him, he has picked an identical set as the last time. He begins retracing his steps to Celes' room and is surprised by its familiarity. His steps slow as every step closer to her door brings his memories closer to the surface.

He stands for a bit before her door, shyly hesitant to knock his cheeks flaming with that familiar tint of rouge. Finally grasping the courage to knock as he had done so frequently before, his memories begin to break loose. Visions blur before him as the bouquet droops to his side amidst the weight of these revelations.

((ooc: Might switch to action - we'll see))

Comments

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Celes shakes her head firmly, looking back at him then. "I don't blame you. It's not your fault, Locke. That's... that's how Gaia is. It's Garland's fault and we'll make him pay."

What is her fault, however, is getting complacent at all and allowing herself to think that things would never change. That's her problem.

"But there's something I should tell you." Oh goddesses this is hard. "I don't want you to take it the wrong way." That's a great start. "While you were gone... things happened. And I... I've been spending a lot of time with Balthier. We've become... close."

That's one way of saying it. She doesn't want to hurt him... doesn't want to hurt either of them, but she knows Terra's right: either way, one of them will get hurt and there's not much she can do about it.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. He had fully expected her to be extremely upset, reserved, and scared, but to have been forgotten like that hit him hard.

His knees began to buckle as he wondered how he was supposed to take it. It hurt as bad as anything he had been through, but he refused to cave in to the pressure. Steeling his legs to keep from falling he took a moment to collect whatever grace he could muster.

"How ..." close he wanted to ask, but stopped himself before subjecting Celes to the uncomfortable question. He had just assumed she would be waiting with open arms for his return.

Conscious that this Balthier might come calling on her this evening, he quickly thought to ask to avoid them both potential embarrassment, "Do you want me to leave?" His voice cracked at those strange words despite his best attempts. Hidden fears surfacing, he still wanted to stay if only to ensure himself that their friendship wasn't "forgotten too. He prepared himself to receive either answer graciously so as to protect her from his pain.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

The reaction written all over Locke's face is enough to make Celes hurt further and she quickly reaches over to take his hand and give it a gentle squeeze. She doesn't want him to think she's replaced or forgotten him. Balthier just happened to be there when she needed someone to lean on. Locke would forever be important to her... but she has no idea how to express that to him.

Shaking her head at his next question, she holds on. "I care about you both," she admits. "I don't... want to hurt you. I just need time. And he already knows. I told him when you showed up... how important you are to me. So he knows and he understands."

It's just a lot she has to work out for herself. The last thing she wants is to hurt them... and she's prepared to lose both of their friendships if she can only prevent them from being hurt.

"I care about you, Locke," she continues, her voice breaking slightly with the weight of her feelings. "I don't want you to think that I don't. But I just need a little time. That's all."

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

He cared about her very much and seeing her in such a state upset him further than his own feelings ever could. There was never anything he wouldn't give her if she needed, but he couldn't save her from this.

Their friendship had weathered many storms and hope ensured this test would also be passed. He knew he had to be strong for her, but tonight he just needed his best friend. He didn't know how to convey to her that no matter anything else he couldn't bare to lose that important piece of his life.

Feeling the gentle squeeze of her hand gave him some reassurance as his forehead lowered towards hers. "Celes. It's not your fault." He doesn't blame her for anything that happened. "I'm thankful to just find you still here."

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

"You won't lose me," Celes answers, knowing they've both worried about that. "Not if I can help it. I'll fight to the death to stay."

And she means that, too. With everything going on, she doesn't want to even think about the possibility that they could get sent home again. She's never experienced this disappearing home thing herself, but she's known plenty of people who have, plenty who have gone and come back. But if she has any choice in the matter, she'll stay. She doesn't want to lose what this world has given her.

As his head lowers, she reacts almost instinctively. She doesn't want to do anything intimate, but... just a simple hug will have to show him how glad she is that he's taking this well and that he's still willing to be there for her. She can't express how much this means to her any other way.

Keywords significant

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

It was an unusual turn of events as Locke was enveloped in a hug from his best friend. Intimacy was the furthest thing from his mind as he drew solace from her longstanding friendship.

Locke's arms instinctively rose to reciprocate, but apprehension at being misconstrued halted their progress. He was unsure of how exactly to convey that he would still protect her as he had since Kohlinghen irregardless of any inklings of romance.

One thing was obvious to him. She would not die on his watch as he softly added, "Not by yourself you won't."

awwwww

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

It's more that Celes wants to reassure him that nothing's really going to change. She still wants him in her life. She just needs a little time to sort out to what extent.

After a while, she pulls back and nods. "Right, because you've always got my back." And she appreciates that about him, though she has no idea how to properly express it.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

He's not ready to think beyond the fact that he hasn't lost his friend, sorting out his feelings will have to come later.

As she pulled back, he was able to stand squarely on his own two feet and give her a genuine smile. Perhaps, she's better at expressing herself than she gives herself credit.

He Pulls squarely on his bandanna. "That's what friends do."

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. I really appreciate it."

And Celes does, more than she can say. Unfortunately, now that she's gotten the confession out of the way, she has no idea what to do or say. All she knows is that she needs time to figure things out and he probably needs time to work through some things, too.

"I'm... sorry, about the timing of everything."

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

'I'm sorry too', he wanted to add but he held back even though his eyes gave it away. She had already been through so much that he couldn't place another burden on her. He tried to be the strong treasure hunter that had rescued her all that time ago.

He attempted to hold his smile for her sake. "It's ok. How could you know?" The earring all but forgotten stayed tucked deep within his pocket as all his awkwardness around Celes returned. He couldn't tell her how much it reminded him of when they met. Maybe he'd be able to give it to her as planned, but for now it would have to stay safely hidden deep within his pocket.

He really didn't want to leave on a sad note and without thinking of the consequences blurted out, "Maybe, we could go treasure hunting sometime."

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Celes is just glad to have her friend back. If nothing else, she wants him to know that he still means a great deal to her and she's happy to see him again. She shakes her head at his question. "I should have expected it from Gaia."

One hand strays to the table again and she glances at the flowers on it until he speaks up again. A smile strays across her lips as she thinks of all the times they've gone adventuring together, everything that's happened between them.

"I'd like that," she answers honestly. Just like old times.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

He was cautiously optimistic that all would turn out well, but irregardless he was looking forward to some time out in the field with Celes. He hoped she would remember the joy they had felt together. For once, he didn't really care where they looked for treasure for the treasure he already knew the treasure he was searching for.

"Really? You'd really like to go?", he said with a huge grin on his face.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Celes nods. "Of course. It'd be just like old times."

She wouldn't mind at all. Maybe it'll help her sort out her feelings. Or maybe it'll make things worse, but she doesn't really care. She's missed him.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke is all turned around inside and out. He doesn't know how to respond which is evidenced through his trademark blush flowing into his body. He wants to re-validate their relationship as quickly as possible but his feelings for her force him to step back and respect her need for time. He already knows the painful truth that he cannot force her to remember.

"Where should we go?" he asks for a change as the location doesn't matter only the company taken. In a concerted effort to give her the space she needs, he fights against his nature leaving the question of when unanswered.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

The question takes Celes a little off-guard and she shakes her head. Exploring hasn't been on her mind in a really long time. "I don't know," she admits. "Maybe we could just choose a location when we decide to go. It feels like they keep changing."

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke was still a little behind the times with all the changes that had gone on since he left. He'd pieced enough together over the last couple days to know that things were moving quickly on Gaia.

Nodding in agreement with her, "We can decide later." He pulls down lightly on his bandanna, giving her a simple smile.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Celes nods, offering a small smile as she does so. She's at least glad that things will, hopefully, not be so awkward between them now, but she's not stupid enough to think everything's okay. She still has to piece things together and the sooner she does that, the better. For now, though, she's just glad she has her friend back.

"Thank you, Locke. I'll be looking forward to it."

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Not knowing what else to do and feeling extremely awkward with the situation, he began to back away towards the exit before he did anything that embarrassed himself.

While he really did want to stay and had been prepared to talk through the night into the wee hours of the morning, he wasn't quite sure what to think at this moment. Instinct was to run, but running had never solved any of his problems.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Likewise, Celes is unsure what else to do or say, but she'll at least offer Locke another smile as her fingers trail over the flowers again. She doesn't want him to run away, but she just needs a little time to sort through herself. Maybe someday soon, she'll be able to manage words to what she's feeling.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Late was better than never. He was glad that the flowers were finally delivered as he had meant to those few months ago. Silently he left her room in a state unlike any other. As soon as the door closed, he just stood there his strength finally abandoning him.

His head drooped as he wondered where to go and what to do.