Hey....

[mistmad]

Characters: Fran and Kiros
Content: After talking to Rikku over the network, Kiros sucks it up and comes down to have a long talk with Fran.
Setting: Fran's bedroom
Time: Later at night, like ten or eleven-ish
Warnings: Kiros perving over Fran?

Comments

[the_katals]

'Just talk to her...'

Kiros thought as he wandered down the halls of the ship with such a pensive gaze on his face. After talking to Rikku a few moments earlier, he realizes that he needs to talk to Fran if he really wants their relationship to progress. For too long now, Kiros has been skirting around the issues dealing with his love for the Viera. Despite knowing that she is loyal and helpful friend, Kiros still has his doubts about Fran. Maybe it’s the fact that she is not human that is making him doubt that the two of them can date each other.

They both come from two different cultures, two completely different societies…

“Fran?” Kiros called out as he knocked upon her door. “It’s me, ‘Angelo’.”

[mistmad]

"Angelo?"

Fran sat up and set aside her book. "I'm coming." She quickly threw on her 'winter' pjyamas (which was still a rather short nightgown, just not as skimpy) and opened her door.

"Is something wrong?"

[the_katals]

He didn't tell Fran that he was dropping by tonight for a reason. Kiros wanted to catch her by surprise in hopes of getting beyond her usual 'one-word' answers or 'all-knowing' replies.

"Hey..." He smiled at her faintly once he saw her peer at him from behind the door. Kiros was definitely glad that the Viera wasn't wearing anything too risqué, it's bad enough that he can barely look her at her eye-to-eye when she is wearing just her usual black armor. Imagine the pressure he would have had to face if she was wearing something lacier and mildly transparent.

“Nothing is wrong, Fran.” Kiros said as he slightly leaned against the doorframe. “Just…wanted to see you…”

[mistmad]

Fran smiled softly. "Come on." She motioned for Kiros to take the chair in her room while she sat back down on her bed.

[the_katals]

Glad that Fran didn't reject him visiting unannounced, Kiros made sure to close the door behind as he walked into the threshold of her quarters.

"How are you today?" Kiros asked with a smile as he strolled over towards the chair.

"I've been so busy lately..."

[mistmad]

"Tired," Fran replied honestly. "I had to make a record of all our losses in the spider infestation. But I'm fine."

Hmm. There was something wrong. He never showed up unannounced, and never was this softspoken anymore. "Are you sure there isn't something you needed to talk about, Kiros?"

[the_katals]

'DAMN!' Kiros thought to himself once Fran asked him that question. Sometimes it just amazes him in how quick the Viera can figure him out. It amazes him but sometimes this little feat annoys the living Hell out of him. He feels as if he can never get the upper hand in a conversation with Fran, maybe she just knows him too well...

"Yeah..." He sighed deeply. "I have a question to ask you." Kiros really hoped this conversation ends well. The last thing he needs is to lose Fran now after all the trials they have faced together.

"What do you think about us?"

[mistmad]

"Us? What do you mean, us?"

A strange feeling of apprehension settled over Fran. What could Kiros want, and what did he mean, what did she think about 'them'?

[the_katals]

A little frown appeared on his face. "You and I. Us, the relationship we have. Where is it going?" Being direct isn't Kiros' strong point sometimes, especially when dealing with matters like this.

"Are we just friends, Fran?" He asked. "Is...that all we should be?"

[mistmad]

Friends...

Did Kiros want something more? Did she want something more? She thought back to everything they'd done-shopping, Lunasa, escaping the Victoria II, surviving the Badlands, coming on to the Silvana...

And Fran couldn't see how they could possibly be mere friends.

"I...I am very fond of you, Kiros," she replied slowly. "You are closer to me than anyone outside the Wood has ever been." She paused. "I think we're more than simple friends."

[the_katals]

Now if this were anyone else besides Fran answering these questions, then he would have been screaming in pure joy to know that the Viera views him more than a friend. Yet, considering this is 'Fran' he is talking too, Kiros knows that he sometimes have to be extremely direct if he is after the answer he truly wants from her. Therefore, with this fact plaguing his mind, Kiros decided to re-word his previous question.

"Being fond of someone is one-hundred percent different than being 'in love' with someone, Fran." He said with a faint smile. "Fran, I am not fond of you. Not as a friend." He took a moment to let those words sink in before continuing. The silence between them was heavy and it took a lot of will power for him to speak.

“I am in love with you, Fran.”

[mistmad]

In love?

Fran just looked at Kiros in utter shock. "You...you are in love with me?" she whispered. Viera didn't have love, they had life mates, and it was unheard of to find one outside the Wood. Then again, considering how few Viera left the Wood...

Life mates were essentially soul mates for Viera, the one person you would be willing to live with forever. Was Kiros that man for Fran?

Looking at the mechanic-turned-boatswain, Fran wondered how he could be anything else and smiled softly, still a little shocked.

[the_katals]

Cue in the nervousness and the sense of DREAD now that he finally said those words. "Yeah, I am..." A deep sigh came from Kiros for it seemed as this conversation is going nowhere fast. That is until he noticed the little smile on Fran's pretty face.

"...eh?" Is she smiling because she understood what he said or is she smiling because of the awkwardness of the situation? To be quite honest, Kiros really couldn't tell.

[mistmad]

Oh, he was worried! Fran quickly explained about life mates. "I don't know what would happen if you left, Kiros."

[the_katals]

He had to again read in-between her words to fully comprehend what exactly is going on here. Usually when people confess their love for another, the person who is the object of their affections would give a straightforward answer! What Fran is doing is not what he would expect from another human but this is what he expected from her. This whole thing about 'life-mates' made sense to him but at the same time, Kiros just really wished Fran could at least understand why he wanted a more direct answer.

"Fran..." His voice still slightly clung to that nervous tone he previously but now it was becoming sterner.

"So I guess...I guess this means you love me too?”

[mistmad]

If Fran were a normal woman, this would be the point where she got up and kissed Kiros in response. As it was, she merely smiled again.

"Yes, Kiros."