The Lion Mourns

[gunbladescar]

My world had shrunk since the first of the month. The problem was that my world, the world I'd made up for myself, consisted mostly of my friend, Zell. A friend who I really didn't deserve if I was honest with myself. If I really thought of him as my friend, I wouldn't have let him just walk away from me without an explanation when I'd lost the

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[niceofyoutoask]

He thought he'd gotten used to seeing dead bodies. He'd certainly seen enough of them; Hell, he'd almost been one himself a few times. Tank shell blasts, dud artillery and stray bullets aside, she was something different. It wasn't that she was a woman, no, there'd been enough civilians caught in the crossfire between Normandy, Holland and Belgium for him to have seen corpses of both genders.

But to see the blood, and the pale, pale skin here on the island was a shock. That same sort of jerk he'd felt right behind his belly button as he realized what he was looking at that he'd first felt back before he'd gotten numb to it.

He'd been going for a walk in the sunshine, and had seen Squall first. It was on his way over to give a friendly hello that he saw the white, and the blood. He walked up beside Squall, his arms crossing themselves against his chest unconsciously as he looked down at the woman.

"Did you know her?" He asked quietly after a moment, not quite sure if he'd get a response.

[gunbladescar]

I'm only vaguely aware of the presence of someone else. I'm too focused on what's under the sheet. Focused, but completely unable to move. I should reach out, bend down, check her. Maybe she's...

"People don't turn up here... dead..." I ask really quietly, not able to even finish the sentence.

[niceofyoutoask]

Lipton looked up from the sheet-covered body and over at Squall's face, no idea at all what the island was trying to pull this time, but absolutely certain that it wasn't good.

"Do you think she could be alive?" Lipton asked, calmly curious. He was fairly certain it wasn't the case - that sheet didn't look like it had anyone breathing under it. He moved down into a crouch, taking a closer look at it. "Want me to check for a pulse?" He'd have to move the sheet first, but he had a feeling that Squall was calling the shots on this one. He'd been there first, after all, even if this wasn't Harry's dell all over again.

[gunbladescar]

I stare at my mother for a moment. She's so pale and... if anyone should know it, I know you can't change the past.

I shake my head. "She can't be." It comes out more as a question though and I wish he would check for a pulse.

I kneel down next to her and pull back the sheet slowly, carefully, staring at her for any sign of life. But there is no movement. Finally finding her arm, I check for a pulse, holding my breath the whole time. I shake my head.

[niceofyoutoask]

Lipton wasn't surprised. He'd seen people bleed out before, and there was a whole lot more blood spreading around onto everything when that happened. Still, there was something hugely wrong with all of this, and not just the dead body turning up out of nowhere. Squall seemed stunned by it, and Lipton was sure that he knew her, somehow.

He's quiet, for awhile. They just kneel there, at her side. "She was beautiful." He says finally, quietly.

[gunbladescar]

When he speaks again, I realize I'd been crying. I wipe the tears, self consciously. I sniffle and my body shudders of its own volition. All I can do is nod stupidly. My cool veneer is completely blown.

The reality of it all suddenly hits me. And I can't believe I'm even worried about it. My dead mother has just turned up and she's just lying here under a bloody, white sheet out for anyone to see. She deserves so much more than that.

"I need to move her," I say, not moving. "She can't stay out here."

[niceofyoutoask]

He hears the sniffle and the intake of breath and he knows what it is, but he knows better than to look over at him. Sometimes you just had to give a guy some privacy, in whatever way you could.

He wasn't about to judge.

When Squall spoke, Lipton nodded, ready to help in any way he could. He suspected that someone on the police force would probably like to know there was a body lying about, but since there didn't seem to be much chance that anything happened to her on the island, moving her would probably be alright. "Do you want me to carry her?"

[gunbladescar]

"NO! Don't touch her!" I shout impulsively, protectively. Immediately I realize my mistake. If I've ever met a good guy, Lipton is one.

"I'm... I'm sorry," I say, hanging my head. "How about I lift her and you make sure she stays covered?"

I realize at some point I'm going to have to tell him this is my mother, but I'll figure that out once she's safely in the hut. I know how fastidious Zell can be, but I swear if he says anything...

[niceofyoutoask]

Lipton didn't say anything to Squall's outburst, knowing his hands hadn't moved from his knees as he'd asked the question. He wasn't offended or affronted or any of it, just a heck of a lot more concerned than he'd been a few seconds ago. Still, he was awfully good at staying calm.

"Don't worry about it," He said good-naturedly, and as he got to his feet he gave Squall a pat on the shoulder. "You go ahead, I'll make sure she's alright." She had to be something to him, a wife or a girlfriend or a sister. He couldn't imagine one of his sisters turning up here like this - or, God forbid, Jane - but he bet he'd be even more of a wreck then Squall could even approach.

[gunbladescar]

Gingerly I kneel down beside her and scoop her up into my arms. She's not heavy. In fact, she's really tiny. Of course, I've only seen her through Laguna's eyes so I'd never had a comparison point. But she is tiny.

I'm hit again by my own emotions. I didn't know I was even capable of this, but then I never thought I would ever have to face my mother like this. In essence, I killed her. I've been blaming Laguna, but what could he have done even if he had been there?

I realize I've been cradling her and crying and I have no idea how much time has passed. I take a breath and let it out slowly. Maybe I shouldn't have been so gung ho to carry her myself.

If I'm known for anything, apart from being moody and introverted, it would be for my perseverance. I'm carrying her home despite all of these emotions.

I'd completely forgotten about Lipton. I can understand why Zell and Harry wanted to conspire against us quiet guys.

[niceofyoutoask]

When Squall lifted her up, Lipton was there to settle her in his arms, to make sure that pale, slender arm was no longer dangling, but tucked carefully into the sheet. The other guy didn't move right away, and Lipton just waited quietly. When the moments turned into minutes, and the minutes slid by, Lipton decided that this could use some prompting. He didn't want to rush the guy, but it was for Squall's own good that he find a purpose again. "Where did you want to take her?" He asked finally, looking up at Sqall.