(no subject)
(Tentative) Title: Squared (2/?)
Author: eleanor_ariail
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Rating: PG-13 I think, overall
Summary: Azkadellia is not willing to wait for DG to lead her to the emerald and decides she has to go straight to the source. This is an AU/what-if story, branching off from the end of part one. All differences will be explained eventually.
Notes: Originally posted here.
Chapter One
“I'm sorry. It seems that's all that's left of both of us.”
“No! No. That isn't true.”
“DG, I understand, you're in denial. It's perfectly normal - the proper first step for accepting this sort of tragedy.”
“No, you don't understand. That isn't all that's left of us! At least, it isn't all that's left of you! I've met you - well, the other you. The rest of you. You, he... you're just fine!”
“But, it's been so many annuals... I thought I'd be gone by now.”
“No, you're doing fairly well, actually. At least, you were, last time we were together.”
“What happened? How did you get separated? How did you end up here?”
“Azkadellia. She found us at the Northern Palace. After she caught me, I heard her tell those monkey things they could do as they please with you. I think I saw them carrying you off as we drove away.”
“Then there's probably nothing left of me anymore. It's a shame, but, it's not like I ever really expected to be whole again.”
“Ambrose, don't say that! I'm sure you found a way to escape. Even without, um, you, you're still a lot smarter than you think you are.”
“That's kind of you to say. What about you, though? Did you hear what they intended to do with the rest of you?”
“The rest of me? What do you- Oh. Oh... Oh!”
“DG? Calm down.”
“I... I...”
“Oh dear, I knew you were in denial. DG! Listen to me! Stay with me! You're alright. You're as safe as you can be.”
“But I'm-”
“Yes, you're just like me. And I'm fine! Remember? You just told me I was fine. You're fine too. We're both doing just fine.”
“But how can you know? I could be anywhere. I could be dead!”
“You aren't dead. You're right here, talking to me.”
“I am not talking! I do not have a mouth!!”
“Please, please don't panic. I know it's an odd situation, but at least we've got each other now, and I'm not going to leave you. I am not going anywhere. Do you believe me?”
“I... I guess so. Well, yes, of course I believe you. Where would you go?”
“Ah. That's a legitimate point, I suppose. See, now, it's not so bad. You still have a sense of humor at least.”
“I still feel like I want to panic.”
“Yes, I imagine you will for a while. Really, though, I wouldn't worry about your body. I know they had planned on just releasing me into the city, all those annuals ago. I'm sure they'll do the same for you. You're probably safe and warm and well-fed even as we speak.”
Glitch had refilled her bowl of soup twice, and taken the time to eat one of his own. They lounged back in their chairs in the corner of the kitchen, letting the meal settle as they rested. “So, Princess,” Glitch said as he rubbed his stomach contently, “Do you have anywhere to go? Any home, family, that you can remember?”
She frowned thoughtfully, then shook her head. Glitch looked around at the kitchen staff, a couple of whom also had zippers cutting across their heads. “I've only been back a couple of days, but I bet Max'd be willing to let you stay here, too. He tries to act tough, but really he's got a soft spot for us. Gives us jobs, helps us find homes.”
He gestured to the ceiling. “I live upstairs, straight up from here, in fact. Nobody else wanted those rooms. They burn up during the day, while all the cooking is going on, but then, at night, they freeze. I don't mind though. I stay down here all day, and I've got a couple of good blankets for nighttime. And Max lets me have them cheap, which is good, since I don't make much money dancing.”
She stared at him in bemusement, enjoying the one-sided conversation. He continued, “Oh, I know what you're thinking. Why don't I do something else, like these guys in here. That way I could get more money, and have a better place to stay. Well, truth is, I'm a horrible cook. Can't follow a recipe to save my life. I keep thinking there's got to be a better way to do it, and then I end up adding too much of everything, until it's absolutely ruined.”
He shrugged and went on. “Anyway, I like the dancing. And the tips aren't too bad on a busy night. Besides, this seems to be the only thing I'm really good at anymore. I've got great rhythm, you know,” he said proudly. Princess nodded, eager to express her appreciation of his dancing, but the sudden movement made a sharp pain shoot through her head. She clutched her temples, moaning.
“Oh no, look at you, here I'm just babbling on, and you're not even cleaned up!” He stood and pulled her along with him. “Don't worry, it'll feel much better when we get some warm water on it.” She followed him up a small staircase and through a door into a shabby room, which, as he had said, was incredibly warm.
He pushed the torn remains of her leather jacket off her shoulders and sat her down on the edge of the bathtub. Still clutching her head, she leaned against him as he soaked a thin cloth and brought it to her head. He squeezed the rag, letting the water trickle down over her hair. Slowly, carefully, he cleaned the dried blood away, reassuring her with a constant stream of soft mutterings.
“There you go, Princess. I think that's got it.” By the time he was finished, she was slumped fully against him, nearly asleep under his gentle hand. They were both soaking wet, and the heat of the room made it very uncomfortable, but still he held her, tenderly tucking her head under his chin and rubbing soft circles on her back.
He glanced out a small window, and, noticing the dim glow of the setting suns, jumped up suddenly. Princess was startled awake by the movement, but he managed to catch her before she fell back into the tub. He steadied her for a moment, then dashed to the other side of the room.
“I hate to have to leave, but it's getting late! I have to change for the evening show!” She watched, fascinated, as he began peeling off the sticky-damp clothing. He grabbed a towel and rubbed it briskly over his skin before digging through a small chest in the corner of the room.
He got out an identical striped shirt and black pants and turned to her as he pulled them on. “I'm sorry, I don't have time to help you get changed. You can wear some of my clothes. They might be a bit big on you, but I think it'll be fine.”
He started out the door, but turned back with an additional thought. “Come on down whenever you're ready. You can watch the show, and then we'll talk to Max together. He'll know what to do for you!”
He grinned at her once more, then left, shutting the door behind him and leaving her in a shockingly sudden silence.
Author: eleanor_ariail
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Rating: PG-13 I think, overall
Summary: Azkadellia is not willing to wait for DG to lead her to the emerald and decides she has to go straight to the source. This is an AU/what-if story, branching off from the end of part one. All differences will be explained eventually.
Notes: Originally posted here.
Chapter One
“I'm sorry. It seems that's all that's left of both of us.”
“No! No. That isn't true.”
“DG, I understand, you're in denial. It's perfectly normal - the proper first step for accepting this sort of tragedy.”
“No, you don't understand. That isn't all that's left of us! At least, it isn't all that's left of you! I've met you - well, the other you. The rest of you. You, he... you're just fine!”
“But, it's been so many annuals... I thought I'd be gone by now.”
“No, you're doing fairly well, actually. At least, you were, last time we were together.”
“What happened? How did you get separated? How did you end up here?”
“Azkadellia. She found us at the Northern Palace. After she caught me, I heard her tell those monkey things they could do as they please with you. I think I saw them carrying you off as we drove away.”
“Then there's probably nothing left of me anymore. It's a shame, but, it's not like I ever really expected to be whole again.”
“Ambrose, don't say that! I'm sure you found a way to escape. Even without, um, you, you're still a lot smarter than you think you are.”
“That's kind of you to say. What about you, though? Did you hear what they intended to do with the rest of you?”
“The rest of me? What do you- Oh. Oh... Oh!”
“DG? Calm down.”
“I... I...”
“Oh dear, I knew you were in denial. DG! Listen to me! Stay with me! You're alright. You're as safe as you can be.”
“But I'm-”
“Yes, you're just like me. And I'm fine! Remember? You just told me I was fine. You're fine too. We're both doing just fine.”
“But how can you know? I could be anywhere. I could be dead!”
“You aren't dead. You're right here, talking to me.”
“I am not talking! I do not have a mouth!!”
“Please, please don't panic. I know it's an odd situation, but at least we've got each other now, and I'm not going to leave you. I am not going anywhere. Do you believe me?”
“I... I guess so. Well, yes, of course I believe you. Where would you go?”
“Ah. That's a legitimate point, I suppose. See, now, it's not so bad. You still have a sense of humor at least.”
“I still feel like I want to panic.”
“Yes, I imagine you will for a while. Really, though, I wouldn't worry about your body. I know they had planned on just releasing me into the city, all those annuals ago. I'm sure they'll do the same for you. You're probably safe and warm and well-fed even as we speak.”
Glitch had refilled her bowl of soup twice, and taken the time to eat one of his own. They lounged back in their chairs in the corner of the kitchen, letting the meal settle as they rested. “So, Princess,” Glitch said as he rubbed his stomach contently, “Do you have anywhere to go? Any home, family, that you can remember?”
She frowned thoughtfully, then shook her head. Glitch looked around at the kitchen staff, a couple of whom also had zippers cutting across their heads. “I've only been back a couple of days, but I bet Max'd be willing to let you stay here, too. He tries to act tough, but really he's got a soft spot for us. Gives us jobs, helps us find homes.”
He gestured to the ceiling. “I live upstairs, straight up from here, in fact. Nobody else wanted those rooms. They burn up during the day, while all the cooking is going on, but then, at night, they freeze. I don't mind though. I stay down here all day, and I've got a couple of good blankets for nighttime. And Max lets me have them cheap, which is good, since I don't make much money dancing.”
She stared at him in bemusement, enjoying the one-sided conversation. He continued, “Oh, I know what you're thinking. Why don't I do something else, like these guys in here. That way I could get more money, and have a better place to stay. Well, truth is, I'm a horrible cook. Can't follow a recipe to save my life. I keep thinking there's got to be a better way to do it, and then I end up adding too much of everything, until it's absolutely ruined.”
He shrugged and went on. “Anyway, I like the dancing. And the tips aren't too bad on a busy night. Besides, this seems to be the only thing I'm really good at anymore. I've got great rhythm, you know,” he said proudly. Princess nodded, eager to express her appreciation of his dancing, but the sudden movement made a sharp pain shoot through her head. She clutched her temples, moaning.
“Oh no, look at you, here I'm just babbling on, and you're not even cleaned up!” He stood and pulled her along with him. “Don't worry, it'll feel much better when we get some warm water on it.” She followed him up a small staircase and through a door into a shabby room, which, as he had said, was incredibly warm.
He pushed the torn remains of her leather jacket off her shoulders and sat her down on the edge of the bathtub. Still clutching her head, she leaned against him as he soaked a thin cloth and brought it to her head. He squeezed the rag, letting the water trickle down over her hair. Slowly, carefully, he cleaned the dried blood away, reassuring her with a constant stream of soft mutterings.
“There you go, Princess. I think that's got it.” By the time he was finished, she was slumped fully against him, nearly asleep under his gentle hand. They were both soaking wet, and the heat of the room made it very uncomfortable, but still he held her, tenderly tucking her head under his chin and rubbing soft circles on her back.
He glanced out a small window, and, noticing the dim glow of the setting suns, jumped up suddenly. Princess was startled awake by the movement, but he managed to catch her before she fell back into the tub. He steadied her for a moment, then dashed to the other side of the room.
“I hate to have to leave, but it's getting late! I have to change for the evening show!” She watched, fascinated, as he began peeling off the sticky-damp clothing. He grabbed a towel and rubbed it briskly over his skin before digging through a small chest in the corner of the room.
He got out an identical striped shirt and black pants and turned to her as he pulled them on. “I'm sorry, I don't have time to help you get changed. You can wear some of my clothes. They might be a bit big on you, but I think it'll be fine.”
He started out the door, but turned back with an additional thought. “Come on down whenever you're ready. You can watch the show, and then we'll talk to Max together. He'll know what to do for you!”
He grinned at her once more, then left, shutting the door behind him and leaving her in a shockingly sudden silence.