To say that Garnet was thrilled to suddenly have the task of locating Kuja thrust upon her would be an incredible misunderstanding. It was not something she fathomed she would take much joy in, especially considering the circumstances. It the small picture accompanying Kuja's replies in the journal had indicated anything, it was that he was ... decidedly different.
Regardless of her confusing emotions concerning him, she, nevertheless, stalked through the streets of the busy city, a bright white parasol shielding her gown from whatever weather the Rivelatan sky felt like showering upon her.
Kuja was not hard to find.
She hesitated for a long moment before swallowing her pride and approaching him, offering a hand. "Kuja."
It may have looked like he was reaching for her hand, but instead of grasping her fingers he grasped her sleeve. Usually cynical eyes were wide with childish wonder. "Your dress looks incredibly pretty on you." His voice was hushed, his fingers gently curled in the fabric. Suddenly jerked from his distraction, the tiny Genome looked up to meet her gaze and let go of her sleeve.
"Why did you look for me?" Though his tone was impatient and brattish, he seemed to instinctively hold onto her hand like all children did. "I thought you'd send Zidane to fetch me."
The compliment seemed easy enough to ignore, but there was no hiding the blush that crept along her cheeks, or the gentle, embarrassed furrowing of her eyebrows. Her reaction to it, however, was completely overshadowed by the look of sorrow that overcame her features as he mentioned Zidane.
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and averted her gaze to the ground. "...Zidane isn't here. It's just Vivi and myself, now. I couldn't leave you out here alone. ...I'm not so heartless." Gently, she started toward his mansion. Perhaps his help could care for him while in this state. He would probably prefer as much.
He stopped walking, staring at her with disbelief. "What do you mean he isn't here?!" Kuja demanded, letting go of her hand. "He can't be gone again, he just can't!"
Much to his self-disgust he could feel his eyes wet with tears and he felt helpless to stop them. "You don't need to do me any favors." He tried sounding haughty but it was difficult when he felt so small and vulnerable. "If he's already gone you can just leave me too."
Giving in to the urge, Kuja rubbed his eyes with his fists though he tried his best not to sniffle. He chastised himself for foolishly thinking his life could continue on as part of a family.
She could hardly believe the fuzzy fit he had, and narrowed her eyes sternly as she watched his performance. How insulting. "How dare you! This is hardly a fa--" As she noticed the tears welling in her eyes, she immediately quieted. Her gaze softened, and she knelt to pull his hands from his face.
That's right, Garnet, she thought, gently rubbing the backs of his hands with her thumbs. Despite everything he's done, he still feels. Zidane was his family. And here, he's.... "You have done more for me here than I give you credit for. There are times I forget; times that I hold all of your past actions against what you have made of yourself here." It was difficult to open herself up in such a manner, but it was high time she owned up to her own mistakes and regrets. "...I do not plan on leaving you, Kuja."
Through tear-glazed eyes he just observed her, watching the conflict of emotions play out on her beautiful face. Everything about her was beautiful. Kuja turned his gaze to her hands holding onto his much smaller ones. Usually he would have violently reacted to such affectionate contact, but in this very moment he felt completely at her mercy.
Her statement brought heat to his cheeks and he ducked his head to avoid looking at her. "I..." His voice sounded so pathetic but he figured it at least matched his appearance. "I do not want you to leave me." You are all I have left of my past.
Those were words she'd never thought she'd hear from him. They were ... sincere. Zidane had not been so far off on his pursuit of a kinder relationship with his brother. He really had seen all of the deepest,most secret parts of him, hadn't he? All the things that Kuja tried to hide away.
...Perhaps she was thinking too hard on the subject. Who was she to analyze the boy standing in front of her?
She smiled sadly, but fondly, and finally stood up, releasing his hands. The handle of the parasol that she'd tucked under her arm, she held out to him. "Are you ready to go home?"
Nodding, Kuja took the parasol she offered. Opening it up, he handed it back to her before placing his hand into her other one. His excuse later would be that her garments were too fine to be showered upon. The truth was that he just wanted to hold onto her hand as they walked back to the Estate.
As the crowds thinned he relaxed visibly, his tail no longer swishing in agitation. When his grand abode came into view, from the eyes of a child he saw it rather differently. He saw it for what it was. "It's so empty." Kuja whispered, brows creasing. "And the walls echo with ghosts of conversations long gone."
"Will you stay with me? Even but for a little while?" The tiny Genome asked, craning his head to look up at her.
Empty. Like the rooms of her palace in Alexandria, the great halls of Kuja's desert mansion. Even here, when she had lived alone, her house was so empty. She could not think of a better word to describe something so devoid of loved ones and happiness.
His question caught her off guard, and as he looked up at her, she cast her gaze away. "No." She spoke softly, lowering her head. It was a reply she wished she hadn't needed to make, but she was not the only one she cared for now. "I can not leave Vivi alone, and he will not trust you."
Perhaps one day he would, but it was not her place to say when. There was only so much she could do, and even now, the small Black Mage was clueless to Kuja's stay on the island.
"...But you can send for me," she continued after a moment's thought, regarding his home with a gentle expression. "And if I am free, I will come."
He didn't expect her declination of his invitation to affect him so personally, but it did. Pursing his lips, he nodded in agreement. "I understand his reasons for not doing so." Kuja admitted softly, hand squeezing hers. "But in a way you are not so wary of me now. Perhaps one day he will not hate me."
The Black Mages, in a twisted way, were Kuja's beloved creations. They were his dolls, lovingly crafted with patience and magic despite the ill intentions they were created for. It was a bitter pill to swallow later, realizing he was no different from the creator he so despised.
"I hope you venture here soon." Letting go of her hand, he stepped away. "A cage is not so lonely when shared."
Comments 11
Regardless of her confusing emotions concerning him, she, nevertheless, stalked through the streets of the busy city, a bright white parasol shielding her gown from whatever weather the Rivelatan sky felt like showering upon her.
Kuja was not hard to find.
She hesitated for a long moment before swallowing her pride and approaching him, offering a hand. "Kuja."
Reply
"Your dress looks incredibly pretty on you." His voice was hushed, his fingers gently curled in the fabric. Suddenly jerked from his distraction, the tiny Genome looked up to meet her gaze and let go of her sleeve.
"Why did you look for me?" Though his tone was impatient and brattish, he seemed to instinctively hold onto her hand like all children did. "I thought you'd send Zidane to fetch me."
Reply
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and averted her gaze to the ground. "...Zidane isn't here. It's just Vivi and myself, now. I couldn't leave you out here alone. ...I'm not so heartless." Gently, she started toward his mansion. Perhaps his help could care for him while in this state. He would probably prefer as much.
Reply
"What do you mean he isn't here?!" Kuja demanded, letting go of her hand. "He can't be gone again, he just can't!"
Much to his self-disgust he could feel his eyes wet with tears and he felt helpless to stop them.
"You don't need to do me any favors." He tried sounding haughty but it was difficult when he felt so small and vulnerable. "If he's already gone you can just leave me too."
Giving in to the urge, Kuja rubbed his eyes with his fists though he tried his best not to sniffle. He chastised himself for foolishly thinking his life could continue on as part of a family.
Reply
That's right, Garnet, she thought, gently rubbing the backs of his hands with her thumbs. Despite everything he's done, he still feels. Zidane was his family. And here, he's.... "You have done more for me here than I give you credit for. There are times I forget; times that I hold all of your past actions against what you have made of yourself here." It was difficult to open herself up in such a manner, but it was high time she owned up to her own mistakes and regrets. "...I do not plan on leaving you, Kuja."
Reply
Her statement brought heat to his cheeks and he ducked his head to avoid looking at her.
"I..." His voice sounded so pathetic but he figured it at least matched his appearance. "I do not want you to leave me." You are all I have left of my past.
Reply
...Perhaps she was thinking too hard on the subject. Who was she to analyze the boy standing in front of her?
She smiled sadly, but fondly, and finally stood up, releasing his hands. The handle of the parasol that she'd tucked under her arm, she held out to him. "Are you ready to go home?"
Reply
As the crowds thinned he relaxed visibly, his tail no longer swishing in agitation. When his grand abode came into view, from the eyes of a child he saw it rather differently. He saw it for what it was.
"It's so empty." Kuja whispered, brows creasing. "And the walls echo with ghosts of conversations long gone."
"Will you stay with me? Even but for a little while?" The tiny Genome asked, craning his head to look up at her.
Reply
His question caught her off guard, and as he looked up at her, she cast her gaze away. "No." She spoke softly, lowering her head. It was a reply she wished she hadn't needed to make, but she was not the only one she cared for now. "I can not leave Vivi alone, and he will not trust you."
Perhaps one day he would, but it was not her place to say when. There was only so much she could do, and even now, the small Black Mage was clueless to Kuja's stay on the island.
"...But you can send for me," she continued after a moment's thought, regarding his home with a gentle expression. "And if I am free, I will come."
Reply
"I understand his reasons for not doing so." Kuja admitted softly, hand squeezing hers. "But in a way you are not so wary of me now. Perhaps one day he will not hate me."
The Black Mages, in a twisted way, were Kuja's beloved creations. They were his dolls, lovingly crafted with patience and magic despite the ill intentions they were created for. It was a bitter pill to swallow later, realizing he was no different from the creator he so despised.
"I hope you venture here soon." Letting go of her hand, he stepped away. "A cage is not so lonely when shared."
Reply
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