[Tales of the Abyss] Third Time
Title: Third Time
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Pairing: Luke/Tear
Rating: R
Wordcount: 500
Notes: Spoilers for the end of the game.
Summary: Tear reflects on the meaning of a field of flowers--and the time she's spent with Luke in it.
They come to the field of selenia flowers so many times. Tear remembers each one--
The first, him irritable and confused, her determined and confused. They were raw, then, neither of them truly knowing what it was they needed to do.
The second, him changed, her already in love with the young man emerging beneath those changes. How long had it taken her? Not very long. He was so kind, even then, and he tried so hard and so fiercely to become better.
But the third, she remembers that best of all.
They crowded around him at first, after Tear had her chance for an embrace, because every last one of them was glad to see Luke back. He had changed again, because he was always changing, and that was just how Tear liked him. They all touched him to be sure he was real (except for Guy, who touched him because that was just the way they were, and Jade, who could see that he was real without needing to touch). Tear held on for dear life.
She will always remember the third time, although there are many times after that.
(The times after that are more intense. From those, she remembers pinning Luke to the ground as the flowers sway around him, her hands exploring his body as his explore hers. She remembers the feel of him inside her, she remembers the awkward faces he makes as she moves against him. She treasures those memories, holds them close to her like the pendant he once retrieved for her.)
Eventually, when the others had gone, that third time in the field of selenia flowers, Tear and Luke lay together, side by side. They were alone. The others knew even better than they did why they should be left alone together.
Luke's voice rang out in the glimmering darkness, finally. "Tear?" She felt his hand grasp for hers, and she clutched it warmly, determined for an absurd moment to never let go.
"What is it, Luke?" she asked.
"I'll go back to the manor eventually," he said, "but it's weird. This feels more like coming home."
"Then we'll come back here," she said. "Again and again. Each time, it'll be like you're coming home."
"I like that idea," he said, and he turned his head and smiled hesitantly at her. There was peace on his face, but also nervousness. He was still changing. "Tear, I've got something to tell you."
"Luke?"
"I love you. I have for a while now."
Her eyes blurred with tears, but they were both smiling now. "Wherever we are," she whispered, "I'm glad you're back. I'm glad you're home."
"Me, too."
They come back to the field of selenia flowers again and again, and Tear will remember each time, each flutter of Luke's heart as she lays her cheek on his bare chest. But the third time is the one that stays shining in her heart. Every time they are there, they come home again.
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Pairing: Luke/Tear
Rating: R
Wordcount: 500
Notes: Spoilers for the end of the game.
Summary: Tear reflects on the meaning of a field of flowers--and the time she's spent with Luke in it.
They come to the field of selenia flowers so many times. Tear remembers each one--
The first, him irritable and confused, her determined and confused. They were raw, then, neither of them truly knowing what it was they needed to do.
The second, him changed, her already in love with the young man emerging beneath those changes. How long had it taken her? Not very long. He was so kind, even then, and he tried so hard and so fiercely to become better.
But the third, she remembers that best of all.
They crowded around him at first, after Tear had her chance for an embrace, because every last one of them was glad to see Luke back. He had changed again, because he was always changing, and that was just how Tear liked him. They all touched him to be sure he was real (except for Guy, who touched him because that was just the way they were, and Jade, who could see that he was real without needing to touch). Tear held on for dear life.
She will always remember the third time, although there are many times after that.
(The times after that are more intense. From those, she remembers pinning Luke to the ground as the flowers sway around him, her hands exploring his body as his explore hers. She remembers the feel of him inside her, she remembers the awkward faces he makes as she moves against him. She treasures those memories, holds them close to her like the pendant he once retrieved for her.)
Eventually, when the others had gone, that third time in the field of selenia flowers, Tear and Luke lay together, side by side. They were alone. The others knew even better than they did why they should be left alone together.
Luke's voice rang out in the glimmering darkness, finally. "Tear?" She felt his hand grasp for hers, and she clutched it warmly, determined for an absurd moment to never let go.
"What is it, Luke?" she asked.
"I'll go back to the manor eventually," he said, "but it's weird. This feels more like coming home."
"Then we'll come back here," she said. "Again and again. Each time, it'll be like you're coming home."
"I like that idea," he said, and he turned his head and smiled hesitantly at her. There was peace on his face, but also nervousness. He was still changing. "Tear, I've got something to tell you."
"Luke?"
"I love you. I have for a while now."
Her eyes blurred with tears, but they were both smiling now. "Wherever we are," she whispered, "I'm glad you're back. I'm glad you're home."
"Me, too."
They come back to the field of selenia flowers again and again, and Tear will remember each time, each flutter of Luke's heart as she lays her cheek on his bare chest. But the third time is the one that stays shining in her heart. Every time they are there, they come home again.