[294: Starting Out] Those Who Can
Challenge: [294] Starting Out
Title: Those Who Can
Word Count: 225
Warnings : Speculation about characters from BBS, but no actual spoilers beyond basic character concept. Also, this drabble is sad in ways that are close enough to the real world to bother some people, so I’m warning for it.
Notes: I’m not sure I like this. I’ve been sitting on it, trying to make it better. But I think it’s as good as it’s going to get. It was really hard to write, because I despise Eraqus with a burning passion, and this was an experiment in sympathy. The only thing I really like is the title.
“Oh, child... How did it happen?”
The boy fought to keep tears from his voice, because real Keyblade Masters had control of their emotions. “They… they said it happens sometimes. When people get old. They said… they said her heart was weak.”
She allowed herself a moment to embrace her student, because sometimes, showing them love at the right moment was the greatest and only way to put them on the path to the light.
“It just seems so unfair.” She held him as he began to shake. “We study, and we train, and we practice, and we learn the mysteries of the heart. But sometimes, hearts still just… stop.”
“Eraqus,” she murmured, “we can’t save them from everything. And that’s the hardest part of what we do. But the greatest strength within us… is the strength to, even knowing that, do what we can. Do you understand?”
Eraqus stared back with new resolve in his eyes, and nodded slowly.
His teacher let out the breath she hadn’t known she was holding. It had been the right thing to say, at the right moment, it seemed. He would move forward. It was the greatest risk, and the greatest reward, of teaching. If she could pass that profession on to him, as well as that of Keyblade Master, she reflected, her work would be well done.
Title: Those Who Can
Word Count: 225
Warnings : Speculation about characters from BBS, but no actual spoilers beyond basic character concept. Also, this drabble is sad in ways that are close enough to the real world to bother some people, so I’m warning for it.
Notes: I’m not sure I like this. I’ve been sitting on it, trying to make it better. But I think it’s as good as it’s going to get. It was really hard to write, because I despise Eraqus with a burning passion, and this was an experiment in sympathy. The only thing I really like is the title.
“Oh, child... How did it happen?”
The boy fought to keep tears from his voice, because real Keyblade Masters had control of their emotions. “They… they said it happens sometimes. When people get old. They said… they said her heart was weak.”
She allowed herself a moment to embrace her student, because sometimes, showing them love at the right moment was the greatest and only way to put them on the path to the light.
“It just seems so unfair.” She held him as he began to shake. “We study, and we train, and we practice, and we learn the mysteries of the heart. But sometimes, hearts still just… stop.”
“Eraqus,” she murmured, “we can’t save them from everything. And that’s the hardest part of what we do. But the greatest strength within us… is the strength to, even knowing that, do what we can. Do you understand?”
Eraqus stared back with new resolve in his eyes, and nodded slowly.
His teacher let out the breath she hadn’t known she was holding. It had been the right thing to say, at the right moment, it seemed. He would move forward. It was the greatest risk, and the greatest reward, of teaching. If she could pass that profession on to him, as well as that of Keyblade Master, she reflected, her work would be well done.