Altair/Sienna - Down to Two
Altair
Sienna
Backlogged to Sunday Morning.
The sun had risen and still Sienna had not been able to fall asleep, her mind jumbled with anger, confusion, disbelief, and hurt. Who was Ethne to take away the closest person she knew? Why would she want to steal Sei and the others away from the rest of the Cathedral? Why would Sei even believe something that sounded so impossible? Why would Sei...put his trust in a woman who wasn't even his own Oracle over his fellow Guardian, one that, Sienna had thought up until now, was also the closest person he was to? None of it made sense to her and all of it pained her.
But she was awake, she was completely awake and when she heard the click of a door being opened and closed, the ebony-haired girl was out of bed and into the cul-de-sac just in time to see Altair...leaving.
"... You too," whispered Sienna weakly, feeling a sudden, heavier weight on her shoulders and chest.
At the whispered voice, Altair's hand froze on the door behind him. His mind raced for a moment, he'd been caught, they knew, he had failed Lady Lethe, but the lack of forceful surprise and anger in the voice threw him off. As did the familiarity.
Miss Sienna. And she sounded and so tired and- you too? Had she run into someone running away as well? Who? And why was she still here, alive, and not somewhere informing the authorities?
He looked toward Miss Sienna with guilt, gripping the doorknob tighter as if willing it to give him back the determination he'd spent all of the night gathering. It didn't work.
His face, his silence were proof that indeed, him too. Sienna's breath hitched but she couldn't say anything. Altair, too. Everyone, it seemed, but her. Why?
"Why?"
He didn't have a complex explanation about how he was doing this because it was the right thing to do or the fact that he wanted to save hundreds of people from a torment they shouldn't have to endure. He didn't believe for a second that they were making the wise choice here by going out on their own, in association with people they still did not know everything about. He still thought this whole endeavor was a great mistake and was probably the only one to still hope that everyone would change their minds and return. Kind of a futile hope at this point.
"It is Lady Lethe's request." That was all the belief he had in this ridiculous plan. His own drawing point to it; his loyalty to the oracle he swore his life to, through good decisions and bad.
Her face twisted in disbelief. "Don't tell me-- You really believe-- You really think our country is going to summon some lord we've never heard of and destroy Midgard? Didn't they send people to help Midgard's flooded city?" Altair, you're more sensible, more mature than Sei... You can't possibly...!
"There is still some chance they may see their error though!" he snapped back, looking frustrated before sinking back against the wall with a hand burying into his hair. How were you supposed to explain to someone that you knew exactly what they were talking about, but your loyalties made you follow the wrong path anyways?
"They're just. Misguided."
"One year." Sienna straightened, hands balled on each side. "They planned for a whole year, Altair. They--Sei completely believes in this! He left--" me "--all he knows for some idiotic story Ethne made up because she said he was best for this." Her eyes narrowed, but she wasn't angry at Altair. No, she was angry at the Fire Oracle for taking away what seemed to be her second family.
No. I won't let her.
Her room was closer to the exit than Lethe's; she had the advantage. I won't let you be tricked, too. And then-- And then--
They could go after Sei and the others and bring them back to their senses and everyone could return and be normal again, right?
"I know." Another frustrated noise and another hand in his hair, pushing back his bangs. There was still a chance, wasn't there? That they'd come to their senses?
"There's. Something." A hint of hopelessness in his tone. "Something."
Her shoulders slumped again. "Altair..." She shook her head. "Don't follow them--they are misguided and if you go you might get in trouble with them, too. If you stay here..." Her arms spread out and Sienna smiled weakly. "Then they'll wonder what's wrong, right? They'll come back for you, and then we can talk some sense into them. They might not trust the government, but they surely can trust us, right? The people they live with?"
"They won't come back." The statement was said matter-of-factly and resigned. He'd already been running late and now, with his concious so heavy, he doubted he'd make it there on time. They would continue on without a glance back, under agreement. "I'm already in trouble for even contemplating treason." He was already dead for contemplating treason.
"What--" She shook her head. "What kind of family is that? They have to come back for you-- Sei at least; you're our brother! How could he-- How could he not..."
He left you back.
"No!" Sienna took a step towards Altair, and she looked just so very desperate. "If you stay-- If you stay then they won't suspect you, right? Because you didn't leave. Maybe you'll get punished for not saying anything but they can't kill you, you didn't do anything wrong! You didn't run away, you're not going to run away, you're going to stay here so we can bring them back together, right? So we can be a family again, right?" Tears started to roll down her cheeks and she roughly rubbed them away. The only two people in the Cathedral she had cried in front of were Sei and Isegrim, and she didn't want Altair to be another one. Things weren't changing, things were perfectly normal. This was just a small mishap. Things weren't changing.
"The mission is what's important," he replied quietly, his voice continuing in its resigned tone. He was going to die. "It's like you said. They have made up their minds, so they won't come back."
"We aren't-" Altair started, falling back against the wall with a small sigh. "We're not a family anymore, Miss Sienna." I never was, he wanted to add bitterly.
"No, this is one of those squabbles family's usually have," she insisted, moving closer to him. "We just need to talk to them. Knock out the rubbish Ethne planted inside their imagination. Then-- Then--" With trembling hands, Sienna covered Altair's wrist, fingers folding over the beaded bracelet she'd gotten them all a year ago. "Then we can live together again and everything will be normal. Right, Altair?"
His hand fell over hers, gently holding and trying to help her calm down. He'd never seen Miss Sienna look so torn. "You know their fate even if they come back. Anyone who comes back or is left behind only has one fate." There weren't anymore options; they'd all given those up once this plan had gone underway.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sienna." I won't be able to help you rebuild your family.
"No!" She pulled back her hand and quickly wrapped it around his, looking up at Altair's scarved face frantically. "You can't die, you won't die, I won't let them! I won't let them kill you or Sei or, or Lethe, or anyone else--" Not even Ethne, villain in her mind, deserved that.
"They're safe for now, Miss Sienna." His hand hesitated for a moment but reached up, carefully pulling down the raised part of his scarf just enough to give Miss Sienna a comforting smile. People seeing the scar he'd spent years covering up didn't seem so important anymore. "They're still alive out there. You can find them again."
She didn't know--didn't know if they really were safe-- How could they be safe, they're betraying their country! --but Altair, Altair was here, Altair was still here and he was going to be in trouble, but she wouldn't let anyone kill him, she'd do all she could to keep him safe--that's what family did for each other, right? Family, friends?
Sienna almost didn't notice the scar; her thoughts were so focused on convincing Altair to stay and keep him safe and--
"We. We can find them, bring them home. Don't use 'miss', we're past formalities, right?" Her eyes flicked briefly at the line across his lower face before returning to his gaze. A scar was a scar was a scar that didn't really matter; Sienna had one on her palm and she didn't care but that was neither here nor there. She tried to rearrange her thoughts again. "Altair?"
It really hurt to stand here, watching Miss Sienna seem so lost. Had it been Sei she'd run into earlier? Out of everyone, his leaving was the one that would hurt her most, wasn't it?
Let her enjoy the time we did spent together, Sei had said. Don't think about how absolute betrayed they'll be when you leave, Altair had mused sadly.
"I'm sorry, M-... Sienna. There won't be a we."
Her hands shook violently, her grip on his wrist tightening. If her nails pierced his skin, she didn't notice. Eyes wide, mouth open to say something, something, but--
"There won't be a we."
"... Wha... What?" Sienna whispered unevenly, the corners of her mouth curling upwards at the sheer absurdness of the situation. This, This had to just be some screwed up nightmare or something-- Maybe something in the water or Lilith having a disturbed sleep, broadcasting it, affecting everyone else's dreams. That had to be it. Had to be it. "Don't... Don't say that, Altair. Everything's... Everything's going to be fine, everyone's going to, to be okay, everyone's going to come back..."
He wanted to stay. He wanted to stay here and comfort Sienna and tell her that everything would be alright but she'd been lied to enough already and he didn't want to add to that list. He didn't want to hurt her anymore and he didn't see her get hurt anymore and damn he was going to hurt her any way he went, wasn't he?
"I wil- I have to turn myself in, Sienna."
"No."
That's all she'd been saying, huh? No, but never yes. There was nothing to say yes to. Altair, turn himself in? No. No.
He'd dug his own grave, now he would lie in it. At least now he could finally do something he wanted to with a clear mind.
"I have to," he repeated quietly, his hand resting gently on hers. "You should go see the others. I won't- can't run away. Not now."
"Why?! How can you just--"
"It's what's right. I-" A falter, followed by a deep, collecting breath. "I have done something wrong. Now I must face the consequences."
Sienna briefly entertained the idea of knocking Altair out and stuffing him in her closet, but he probably wouldn't like that very much and he'd have to come out some time. Instead, she lowered her gaze but refused to release her grip on him. What could she say to that? He was right. But then they would... They would...
"It's. Not much, but tell Le- tell everyone I'm sorry?" His arm gently pulled free as he offered Sienna a sad smile. "I really am."
"Don't." She choked on the word and swallowed, unable to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. "Don't say that. You tell Lee, and everyone, sorry when you get back. They-- They can't e-ex--"
They could.
"Be, Because you'll come back. You will." You have to.
He hesitated for a moment before taking the end of his scarf, using it to wipe away Sienna's tears. He only wished he could offer her a shoulder to cry on, but he needed to leave now. No more hesitations.
"I'll try, Sienna. You. You take care of yourself, okay?"
The gesture only caused her to cry harder. He was really going. Altair was leaving, and not even to a different life. He was going to death. It would take a while for Sienna to realize why.
The Moon Guardian looked up at him with as much determination as she could muster. "You-- You're the one that has to, has to--" Don't you dare die. Don't you dare. "Come back, Altair. You have to come back."
"I'll try," he said again with another sad smile, his hand brushing against the side of Sienna's hair. She would be okay, wouldn't she? She had the others who knew that she hadn't tried to abandon them; she would be fine. Sienna still had someone.
Carefully, he moved himself away from the wall and around Sienna, hesitating for a moment. He wanted to turn around and give her some sort of last comfort, something he could come back for so Sienna would kn- think that there still was a chance of him living. But- no- there'd been enough false hope thrown around, hadn't there?
"Bye."
Sienna
Backlogged to Sunday Morning.
The sun had risen and still Sienna had not been able to fall asleep, her mind jumbled with anger, confusion, disbelief, and hurt. Who was Ethne to take away the closest person she knew? Why would she want to steal Sei and the others away from the rest of the Cathedral? Why would Sei even believe something that sounded so impossible? Why would Sei...put his trust in a woman who wasn't even his own Oracle over his fellow Guardian, one that, Sienna had thought up until now, was also the closest person he was to? None of it made sense to her and all of it pained her.
But she was awake, she was completely awake and when she heard the click of a door being opened and closed, the ebony-haired girl was out of bed and into the cul-de-sac just in time to see Altair...leaving.
"... You too," whispered Sienna weakly, feeling a sudden, heavier weight on her shoulders and chest.
At the whispered voice, Altair's hand froze on the door behind him. His mind raced for a moment, he'd been caught, they knew, he had failed Lady Lethe, but the lack of forceful surprise and anger in the voice threw him off. As did the familiarity.
Miss Sienna. And she sounded and so tired and- you too? Had she run into someone running away as well? Who? And why was she still here, alive, and not somewhere informing the authorities?
He looked toward Miss Sienna with guilt, gripping the doorknob tighter as if willing it to give him back the determination he'd spent all of the night gathering. It didn't work.
His face, his silence were proof that indeed, him too. Sienna's breath hitched but she couldn't say anything. Altair, too. Everyone, it seemed, but her. Why?
"Why?"
He didn't have a complex explanation about how he was doing this because it was the right thing to do or the fact that he wanted to save hundreds of people from a torment they shouldn't have to endure. He didn't believe for a second that they were making the wise choice here by going out on their own, in association with people they still did not know everything about. He still thought this whole endeavor was a great mistake and was probably the only one to still hope that everyone would change their minds and return. Kind of a futile hope at this point.
"It is Lady Lethe's request." That was all the belief he had in this ridiculous plan. His own drawing point to it; his loyalty to the oracle he swore his life to, through good decisions and bad.
Her face twisted in disbelief. "Don't tell me-- You really believe-- You really think our country is going to summon some lord we've never heard of and destroy Midgard? Didn't they send people to help Midgard's flooded city?" Altair, you're more sensible, more mature than Sei... You can't possibly...!
"There is still some chance they may see their error though!" he snapped back, looking frustrated before sinking back against the wall with a hand burying into his hair. How were you supposed to explain to someone that you knew exactly what they were talking about, but your loyalties made you follow the wrong path anyways?
"They're just. Misguided."
"One year." Sienna straightened, hands balled on each side. "They planned for a whole year, Altair. They--Sei completely believes in this! He left--" me "--all he knows for some idiotic story Ethne made up because she said he was best for this." Her eyes narrowed, but she wasn't angry at Altair. No, she was angry at the Fire Oracle for taking away what seemed to be her second family.
No. I won't let her.
Her room was closer to the exit than Lethe's; she had the advantage. I won't let you be tricked, too. And then-- And then--
They could go after Sei and the others and bring them back to their senses and everyone could return and be normal again, right?
"I know." Another frustrated noise and another hand in his hair, pushing back his bangs. There was still a chance, wasn't there? That they'd come to their senses?
"There's. Something." A hint of hopelessness in his tone. "Something."
Her shoulders slumped again. "Altair..." She shook her head. "Don't follow them--they are misguided and if you go you might get in trouble with them, too. If you stay here..." Her arms spread out and Sienna smiled weakly. "Then they'll wonder what's wrong, right? They'll come back for you, and then we can talk some sense into them. They might not trust the government, but they surely can trust us, right? The people they live with?"
"They won't come back." The statement was said matter-of-factly and resigned. He'd already been running late and now, with his concious so heavy, he doubted he'd make it there on time. They would continue on without a glance back, under agreement. "I'm already in trouble for even contemplating treason." He was already dead for contemplating treason.
"What--" She shook her head. "What kind of family is that? They have to come back for you-- Sei at least; you're our brother! How could he-- How could he not..."
He left you back.
"No!" Sienna took a step towards Altair, and she looked just so very desperate. "If you stay-- If you stay then they won't suspect you, right? Because you didn't leave. Maybe you'll get punished for not saying anything but they can't kill you, you didn't do anything wrong! You didn't run away, you're not going to run away, you're going to stay here so we can bring them back together, right? So we can be a family again, right?" Tears started to roll down her cheeks and she roughly rubbed them away. The only two people in the Cathedral she had cried in front of were Sei and Isegrim, and she didn't want Altair to be another one. Things weren't changing, things were perfectly normal. This was just a small mishap. Things weren't changing.
"The mission is what's important," he replied quietly, his voice continuing in its resigned tone. He was going to die. "It's like you said. They have made up their minds, so they won't come back."
"We aren't-" Altair started, falling back against the wall with a small sigh. "We're not a family anymore, Miss Sienna." I never was, he wanted to add bitterly.
"No, this is one of those squabbles family's usually have," she insisted, moving closer to him. "We just need to talk to them. Knock out the rubbish Ethne planted inside their imagination. Then-- Then--" With trembling hands, Sienna covered Altair's wrist, fingers folding over the beaded bracelet she'd gotten them all a year ago. "Then we can live together again and everything will be normal. Right, Altair?"
His hand fell over hers, gently holding and trying to help her calm down. He'd never seen Miss Sienna look so torn. "You know their fate even if they come back. Anyone who comes back or is left behind only has one fate." There weren't anymore options; they'd all given those up once this plan had gone underway.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sienna." I won't be able to help you rebuild your family.
"No!" She pulled back her hand and quickly wrapped it around his, looking up at Altair's scarved face frantically. "You can't die, you won't die, I won't let them! I won't let them kill you or Sei or, or Lethe, or anyone else--" Not even Ethne, villain in her mind, deserved that.
"They're safe for now, Miss Sienna." His hand hesitated for a moment but reached up, carefully pulling down the raised part of his scarf just enough to give Miss Sienna a comforting smile. People seeing the scar he'd spent years covering up didn't seem so important anymore. "They're still alive out there. You can find them again."
She didn't know--didn't know if they really were safe-- How could they be safe, they're betraying their country! --but Altair, Altair was here, Altair was still here and he was going to be in trouble, but she wouldn't let anyone kill him, she'd do all she could to keep him safe--that's what family did for each other, right? Family, friends?
Sienna almost didn't notice the scar; her thoughts were so focused on convincing Altair to stay and keep him safe and--
"We. We can find them, bring them home. Don't use 'miss', we're past formalities, right?" Her eyes flicked briefly at the line across his lower face before returning to his gaze. A scar was a scar was a scar that didn't really matter; Sienna had one on her palm and she didn't care but that was neither here nor there. She tried to rearrange her thoughts again. "Altair?"
It really hurt to stand here, watching Miss Sienna seem so lost. Had it been Sei she'd run into earlier? Out of everyone, his leaving was the one that would hurt her most, wasn't it?
Let her enjoy the time we did spent together, Sei had said. Don't think about how absolute betrayed they'll be when you leave, Altair had mused sadly.
"I'm sorry, M-... Sienna. There won't be a we."
Her hands shook violently, her grip on his wrist tightening. If her nails pierced his skin, she didn't notice. Eyes wide, mouth open to say something, something, but--
"There won't be a we."
"... Wha... What?" Sienna whispered unevenly, the corners of her mouth curling upwards at the sheer absurdness of the situation. This, This had to just be some screwed up nightmare or something-- Maybe something in the water or Lilith having a disturbed sleep, broadcasting it, affecting everyone else's dreams. That had to be it. Had to be it. "Don't... Don't say that, Altair. Everything's... Everything's going to be fine, everyone's going to, to be okay, everyone's going to come back..."
He wanted to stay. He wanted to stay here and comfort Sienna and tell her that everything would be alright but she'd been lied to enough already and he didn't want to add to that list. He didn't want to hurt her anymore and he didn't see her get hurt anymore and damn he was going to hurt her any way he went, wasn't he?
"I wil- I have to turn myself in, Sienna."
"No."
That's all she'd been saying, huh? No, but never yes. There was nothing to say yes to. Altair, turn himself in? No. No.
He'd dug his own grave, now he would lie in it. At least now he could finally do something he wanted to with a clear mind.
"I have to," he repeated quietly, his hand resting gently on hers. "You should go see the others. I won't- can't run away. Not now."
"Why?! How can you just--"
"It's what's right. I-" A falter, followed by a deep, collecting breath. "I have done something wrong. Now I must face the consequences."
Sienna briefly entertained the idea of knocking Altair out and stuffing him in her closet, but he probably wouldn't like that very much and he'd have to come out some time. Instead, she lowered her gaze but refused to release her grip on him. What could she say to that? He was right. But then they would... They would...
"It's. Not much, but tell Le- tell everyone I'm sorry?" His arm gently pulled free as he offered Sienna a sad smile. "I really am."
"Don't." She choked on the word and swallowed, unable to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. "Don't say that. You tell Lee, and everyone, sorry when you get back. They-- They can't e-ex--"
They could.
"Be, Because you'll come back. You will." You have to.
He hesitated for a moment before taking the end of his scarf, using it to wipe away Sienna's tears. He only wished he could offer her a shoulder to cry on, but he needed to leave now. No more hesitations.
"I'll try, Sienna. You. You take care of yourself, okay?"
The gesture only caused her to cry harder. He was really going. Altair was leaving, and not even to a different life. He was going to death. It would take a while for Sienna to realize why.
The Moon Guardian looked up at him with as much determination as she could muster. "You-- You're the one that has to, has to--" Don't you dare die. Don't you dare. "Come back, Altair. You have to come back."
"I'll try," he said again with another sad smile, his hand brushing against the side of Sienna's hair. She would be okay, wouldn't she? She had the others who knew that she hadn't tried to abandon them; she would be fine. Sienna still had someone.
Carefully, he moved himself away from the wall and around Sienna, hesitating for a moment. He wanted to turn around and give her some sort of last comfort, something he could come back for so Sienna would kn- think that there still was a chance of him living. But- no- there'd been enough false hope thrown around, hadn't there?
"Bye."