(Untitled)

[cakeblocked]

Who: cakeblocked and soreplaceable
What: Some secrets are probably better kept hidden.
When: Evening of the 28th
Where: The hot springs
Summary: Through unfortunate AU events, Luke found out that Ion will die in his near future. He doesn't take it well, and Ion searches for him after he disappears.
Rating: It can't get higher than PG.

Comments

[cakeblocked]

[Luke heard that noise, and his first instinct was to whirl around and let his hand over near the hilt of his sword. Someone followed him, who...

... Ion.

Luke freezes in his place and stares at Ion with wide eyes. This... person who he looks up to, who was practically his first friend... was going to die in his future. Very soon in the future, too, if his guess was correct. And Ion remembered telling him, too...

The hand over his sword trembles just slightly, and it's only upon realizing that that Luke grips his hand into a fist and brings it back down to his side, and he brings his head down sharply to stare down at the ground. Out of all the people...]

Ion...

[... And Luke has no idea just how ridiculous his "camping site" looks. A bag with some fruit and cans of food lays near the springs, his book on hyperresonace lays near his shelter... Which, by the way, is only a tree. A large tree with dense branches, but a tree nonetheless. And under that tree is... a mattress. The mattress that he pulled from his bed. He couldn't find a sleeping bag, and what else are you supposed to use if you can't find one? A lantern is beside that, and right now that's the only bright source of light in their dim surroundings.

In short, Luke has no idea how to set up a decent shelter in the outside. At all. It's what happens when no one trusts you to help out with preparing a campsite.]

[soreplaceable]

[As much as Ion had been trying to track down Luke today and as much time as he had to think about what he would say when he finally found Luke, now that he was standing here in front of him, his mind was blank. What should he say to him? What could he say to him?]

[When Luke's eyes fall to the ground, Ion takes a hesitant step towards him. No. He couldn't be the uncertain one here. He needed to be strong... for Luke's sake. He could do this.]

...I'm sorry. I know you probably didn't want anyone to follow you... [Why else would he leave so late in the day?] But I need to speak with you, Luke.

[cakeblocked]

[Luke does not look up at Ion; in fact, one foot takes a small, discrete little movement backwards. No, no, he doesn't want to talk, he just - he wants to be left alone. Ion - Ion was going to die and he -

He was acting like a damned coward.

Luke steels himself upon hearing that little thought in his head, and he shuts his eyes and takes in a breath. Still, he does not look at Ion. But at least there's no attempt to get away.]

... All right.

[soreplaceable]

[Although Luke agreed to hear Ion speak, he stays silent for a minute or two, trying to gather his thoughts together. Whether a blessing in disguise or simply adding insult to injury, the horrific dreams he'd been forced to see over the past few days made his memories fresh in his mind, even though it had been over half a year since he was last on Auldrant. Still, that didn't make this task any easier.]

[When he speaks, his voice is as soft and gentle as always.]

...this isn't how I wanted you to find out. To be honest, I hadn't intended for you to ever find out. I thought as long as we were both in Luceti, there was no reason for it. I'm still here. [A pause. He's trying to keep his voice steady.] ...but I've been sent "home" before. I came back the same time you arrived. And I knew there was always a chance something like that could happen again.

I thought if I could at least spare you the knowledge that I had nothing to return to, perhaps... if and when the time came for us to leave Luceti, you wouldn't have to suffer additionally for my sake. It was selfish of me and I should have known better. [He should have known something would have happened to make it come up. He should have known it would only hurt worse to find out about it like this. He should have known how much it would hurt Luke, to learn that such a terrible lie had been kept from him.]

I understand if you're upset with me for keeping something like this a secret, and you have every right to be. I'm sorry, Luke.

[cakeblocked]

[Halfway through Ion's explanation, Luke had to turn his back to him and take a few steps away, still glaring down at the ground. Damn it. Damn it. Ion was like a few other people Luke knew here - if and when he went home, he'd be dead. And honestly, why didn't anyone else realize that Luke would rather know than be oblivious about this sort of thing? He'd rather grieve if his friend went back to his death than to be blissfully unaware, especially when everyone else knew.]

Spare me? You -

[No... Luke can understand the sentiment. It's like when they escorted the people of Engeve to Chesedonia, and Luke met that woman whose husband and son... died in Akzeriuth. Jade made him spare her the details; he knew that she'd only be even more stressed knowing that she was traveling with her family's killer.

But this - this was different. Ion's life was precious, and now even more so since this was the only one he could have. And here Luke would think about going home and seeing Ion, and sitting together and talking about how Luceti was such a weird place...

He pauses for only a few seconds before he shakes his head and keeps going.]

I would've wanted to know something like this, Ion! [He turns to face him, angry and hurt and furious and sad.] You're still here, but if you go back, you're dead! There's nothing else! And I would've gone on believing you'd be okay, just waiting for all of us to -

[He cuts himself off again, cringing and taking in a sharp breath. Damn it, there was a painful sting in his eyes again... Luke had thought he cried everything out already. He takes a second to fight it back, and:]

Has everyone been keeping me in the dark? Do they all know about this? Why didn't anyone ever think of telling me?!

[soreplaceable]

[Dead. Nothing else. As much as Ion tries to keep himself steady, he can't help but wince as those words are thrown out like a slap in the face. Ever since his last conversation with Nephry, it had become more and more difficult to continue being at peace with his death. The longer he lived, the more he began to cherish the second chance at life he was given here. No matter how difficult life became, he was still here...!]

[But that didn't make the reality of the fact that he could never go home, that he might never see those who were returned ever again, any less painful.]

[Ion fights the urge to shut his eyes and look away. Luke was hurting because of something he did, because of something that's going to happen to him. Ion had no right to look away. He needed to face this head-on. After all, it was because of his own inability to face this sooner that Luke was suffering now.]

...it was for my sake that no one told you, although whether they agreed with my sentiment or not, I don't know. I never directly told anyone to keep this from you, but I... didn't have to. This was something that should have been my responsibility to tell you. [Deep breath.] It's my fault and mine alone that you weren't told.

[cakeblocked]

[It figures that once Luke is so cornered and hurt, all of his thoughtfulness and tact gets thrown out the window. There were few things that could make him feel this way... In fact, Luke can't remember the last time he'd been so angry. This is why he wanted Ion away - Luke couldn't control himself, and he didn't want Ion in the way of his warpath.

At Ion's words, Luke threw his hands up in the air and turned away again. It would've been so much better if Ion just stayed home and let Luke figure this out on his own.]

It's not all your fault! You didn't tell anyone what to do!

[He clenches his fists in front of him and grits his teeth, letting out a hiss of a breath before he continues on.]

How much more is everyone keeping from me?! Asch, Guy... Tear.

[His voice cracks at that last word. Out of everyone, Tear... The one he still - ]

How am I supposed to change if everyone's still keeping things from me?!

[soreplaceable]

[What can he possibly say to that when he already knows everything Luke is saying is right? Ever since arriving in Luceti, they've been able to grow far closer than they ever did on Auldrant, both as friends and as fellow replicas. For Ion to have kept this secret, to have betrayed Luke's trust with a truth so horrible for so long, it was almost unforgivable.]

[His voice is calm and clear in contrast to Luke's anger. There's a short pause between Luke's question and Ion's reply, in the hopes that the brief silence would allow Luke a moment to try and calm down. This conversation wasn't going to be easy for either of them... perhaps it might have been better for Ion to leave Luke alone right now, but he would have never forgiven himself for it.]

...you're right, Luke. I can't speak for the others, but from now on, I won't keep anything from you ever again.

[. . .]

Even now, there's more you don't know about... what happened to me. And I'm going to tell you everything, if you're willing to listen.

[cakeblocked]

[That moment, however brief, did serve to make Luke's anger settle itself just a bit. He kept his back to Ion, though, even as he spoke, and merely kept his eyes shut. So... Ion wasn't going to hide anything ever again. But could he really trust that? He already trusted him - and everyone else - with that, but... look how that turned out.

For another moment, there's just silence. Luke's fists tighten, relax, tighten again, and he turns his head just slightly before he faces forward again. His weight shifts to his other foot, and he purses his lips and raises his fist to rest against his chest.

He's asking himself: Does he really want to know? Of course he does. But right now, when all of his emotions were already spinning in a great storm?

But after he makes his decision, he heads to the mattress without a word and sits at the edge of it, his glare at the ground, though he makes a motion with his head as well, a gesture to either go to him or to go on with what he has to say.

... If Ion does choose to sit with him, though, he'd better not make fun of his choice of bedding. Luke thought it was pretty clever himself.]

[soreplaceable]

[Ion watches as Luke moves to the mattress (why was there a mattress here?) and waits for him to look back before slowly walking over and joining him. Although he sits beside Luke, he notably gives him as much space as he can, still not quite sure just how upset Luke is with him right now. Naturally the thought had crossed his mind at least once: what if Luke couldn't forgive him? What if he could never trust him again?]

[He closes his eyes and bows his head, steadying himself as he tries to recall everything just as it was.]

It was about a month after our journey ended. You and Tear came by the Cathedral to speak with me in regards to the Planet Storm's increased activity. While you were there, Guy arrived from Malkuth with a report that Dist had escaped from the penitentiary in Grand Chokmah. Shortly after, the ship transporting Mohs to his official hearing was intercepted and Mohs had been nowhere to be found. Even with Van gone, there were concerns that the ghost of his initial plans still lived on through his sub-ordinates.

And so, the three of you decided to head for St. Binah after hearing that Asch had planned to go there. Anise asked to accompany you as well. [A pause.] Although it was unusual for her to ask to leave on her own, I didn't mind. But stranger than that was the lack of reports from her while you were gone. As such, I'm afraid I can't say what you were able to find out from Asch.

The next time you arrived in Daath, Tear was feeling ill from the miasma in her body and we brought her to the Cathedral to rest... [Another pause, and he turns to glance over at Luke.] ...perchance, has Tear mentioned to you that her miasma-contaminated fonons have been removed?

[cakeblocked]

[Luke sat quietly as he listened to Ion. So he was right... It would happen soon. Just a month after the journey ended was where he was from right now. The knowledge makes him clench his fists and shut his eyes. So, when... or if he went back home, he'd have to face this very soon. It honestly makes him feel a little sick to his stomach.

At his question, though, Luke opens his eyes and glances at Ion before he stares down at the ground again, his voice subdued and a little bitter.]

Yeah. I asked how she's been taking her medicine if it wasn't brought here with her, and she told me she didn't need it anymore.

[She did not tell him how, and he didn't ask. That was okay with him. He'd just been so happy to hear that she was all right and wouldn't have to suffer anymore that he just hugged her close and talked about how relieved he was.

... Now that he thinks about it, she didn't look so happy...]

[soreplaceable]

...I see. [Ion turns his head away, wondering for a moment just how Tear must have felt, explaining that to Luke while being forced to leave out the how. He never directly told Tear that Luke didn't know. Certainly, when she heard Luke ask, she must have just assumed. As horrible as it is for Ion to have accidentally told Luke during an experiment, he knows it would have been far worse if one of their friends had accidentally told him and had been forced to explain. This wasn't a burden Ion would have wanted to place on anyone.]

It was strange. Tear's condition appeared to be worsening, but without direct exposure to more miasma, that shouldn't have been happening. Jade proposed that perhaps the increased Planet Storm was producing more miasma. Assuming that to be the case, only removing the miasma from Tear's body would allow her to be well again. [A pause, his voice growing softer.] ...there was a way of doing that which hadn't been brought up yet. But before I had a chance to explain, Anise came into the room to tell us the miasma had returned and the city was in a panic.

[His eyes fall to the ground.] Anise pulled me out of the room and took me to the Sephiroth located within the Cathedral... under Mohs' orders. It seemed she had been working as a spy for Mohs since she was assigned to become my Fon Master guardian...

[cakeblocked]

[... Did Tear lie then, too?

Luke's eyes narrow at the thought, but then Ion continues his explanation and he makes himself relax. He's already listening with a foul mood; he wouldn't want to just stop listening entirely thanks to all of his frustration.

But... That's so strange. Why was Tear's condition worsening? They hadn't gotten rid of any more of Yulia's seals, and there shouldn't have been any more miasma. So how...? The Planet Storm? Was that really it? Was it producing more miasma?

Then it wasn't just a trivial matter... Damn it.

Luke parts his lips, as if he wants to interject, but can't figure out how. What other way was there? Was this what Tear kept from him?

... And then he talks about Anise. And Luke can't stop himself from interrupting; in fact, he even abruptly stands to his feet.]

Wait, Ion, what did you just say? Anise was a spy? You mean... That whole time, she was...

[No way... Did Anise betray them all?]

[soreplaceable]

[Ion looks up at Luke when he jumps to his feet, having expected a strong reaction like that. Anise had been acting strangely, yes, but for her to admit that she had been working with Mohs the entire time... perhaps it was simply because so much had been happening all at once that Ion never truly had time to react to that knowledge. And yet somehow, even now, he couldn't bring himself to hold it against her. Thinking about how much pain Anise must have been, being forced to choose between the people she cared about and the family she loved, only made Ion feel sorrow and regret. How might things have turned out if someone had spoken up? If Anise had? If Ion had...]

It had been Anise's job to report back to the Grand Maestro everywhere we went and everything we did. Oliver and Pamela had incurred a high debt when Anise was still very young and Mohs was the one to offer them relief. He paid off their debts in exchange for their loyalty to the Order. But in exchange for their guarenteed safety, Anise was forced to do Mohs' bidding. Mohs had even gone so far as to hold them hostage in case Anise attempted to disobey.

[He bows his head. It's becoming more and more difficult to keep his voice steady and calm.]

It was due to her interferance that Mohs was able to escape with me to Mt. Zaleho, the location of the Seventh Fonstone. Mohs wanted me to read the Planet Score, a record of the entire life of the planet. But the Planet Score places a heavy burden on the reader. My body isn't... wasn't strong enough to handle that burden.

By the time you and everyone else had arrived, I was already in the midst of reading it.

[cakeblocked]

[Her parents... And Anise cared deeply for them. He knew that just from watching her interact with them. Mohs was using her as a puppet all along...

Just like how he was with Van... Sure, he had the misfortune of practically being hypnotized and used through his naivete while Anise had her wits about her, and yet...

Luke slowly sat back down with wide, distant eyes. It was still... hard to let it sink in. Anise, ever since he met her... was working for Mohs. Mohs.

Speaking of that man, Luke looked back at Ion when he talked about Mohs escaping with Ion, forcing him to read the Planet Score... And...

Luke's fingers curl and grip into the single sheet he brought with him.]

That's when... [He squeezes his eyes shut and turns his head away - he's feeling a little sick to his stomach now.] That's enough!

[soreplaceable]

[Luke's voice rings out in contrast to Ion's soft one, causing him to take in a short breath and look up quickly. It was a lot to take in. Ion knew that, but perhaps he hadn't really thought about just how hard it would be to hear... more specifically, just how hard it would be for Luke to hear. For that matter, anyone other than himself, who could speak so calmly about something as drastic as the loss of his own life.]

[After Ion had that final dream in which he relived his final moments, things had been different. He wasn't calm and accepting upon waking... he was terrified. Terrified. That was how a normal person reacted to their own mortality, wasn't it? Just a normal teenagers... so unlike Ion, who remained calm and collected even as he raised his hands to read the score he knew would seal his fate.]

[But more than that, a normal person wouldn't choose to die. It was just as he had told Nephry the night after Anise returned home: Mohs may have set the stage , but it was his decision, his choice, to die that day. He walked to his demise knowing fully well the others would arrive soon and he would be able to use the last of his seventh fonons to save Tear. It was what he wanted.]

[So why were his shoulders shaking so much?]

...I'm sorry. [He says it quickly, almost without thinking, as he closes his eyes and once more bows his head, willing himself to stay calm. It was just the stress from the past few days getting to him, stay calm. Calm.] I'm sorry, Luke.