“…Terra?” I called quietly. No response. He appeared to still be asleep. Balancing my weight with my left hand on the bed, I reached over and felt his forehead. He didn’t feel overly warm nor cold, but I was still weary. I walked away to get ready for the day.
I looked back over to him. He hadn’t moved much since I checked him forty minutes ago. I picked up a notebook that was laying on trunk at the end of my bed. Tearing out a sheet, I quickly scribbled a note to him:
Terra,
I thought I would let you sleep in since its our day off. I’ll let Gen. Ignis know that you are here. I hope you aren’t sick (even though you slept without a cover or tshirt ), but please still drink some of the orange juice I have in my fridge. I’m currently heading to the Mess Hall. In case I don’t see you later, please have a wonderful day.
Your’s sincerely, Xan Aqua
I liked the look of my actual name, instead of Xan. Smiling, I laid the note on the stand next to the bed he was in. I was about to leave when I grabbed the note and wrote a P.S.:
P.S. I put the key on the table. Please lock my door and hide the key in the loose brick on the left side of the door. And rinse this note underwater and throw it away. Thank you!
Satisfied, I put it back on the stand, out the key on the table, and left the barrick.
**********************
I stirred awake and rolled off the bed.
Wasn’t feeling too good, but I guess thats what I got when I ran in rain for over an hour, without a shirt on.
I got up off the floor, and sat on the edge of my bed…. I didn’t want to get up, I was lazy….ok that was a lie.
I felt light headed, but I knew it was because I didn’t eat or get up for the day, staying in bed for too long does this to the human body.
I got up off the bed and fumbled around the house looking for my clothes.
When I got dressed I found the note, under my bed, must have came from somewhere, must of fallen off my bed..
I read it and sighed…..”mmmmm”
I went to the table got the key and stumbled out the door, locking it behind me and putting it behind the brick like she asked me too.
I struck out to mine and axel’s house.
I was almost there when someone grabbed me from behind, having a choker hold on me.
“sooo get close to the chicy huh?” I looked up to see axel.
“Dammit can you not do that?” I said being released and sighed.
“come on” he said dragging me in the house.
I coughed then looked up, “you my friend,” he said clasping my shoulder, “look like shit.”
“It rained last night..” I said, “and this morning,” axel finished.
“I see…” I looked at my cot and saw all my stuff packed and on top the bed,
“Whats..goi-”
“I took the liberty to pull strings to let you move back in with Priv. Kou. No need to thank me now..” He said pushing me to my bed, I stumbled and almost fell but caught myself at the end of the bed
“damn….you are getting sick aren’t you….” he asked me
“nah…just dizzy from not sleeping…” I said
I looked at my hand, and sighed, he didn’t notice that I had this note in my hand….
I went over to the back of the house in the bathroom… all the while axel was going on and on on how he did what he did, to get me back at the old house
when in the bathroom, I pulled a Zippo out of my pocket and over the toilet, set the note a flame and let it turn to ash over it and then flushed it.
“little overkill, but it works…” I said to myself.
Axel’s head popped into the bathroom, “you’re getting whiter!” he said in a taunting tone.
“Eh..” is all I replied with.
I walked back out and over to my bed, picking up my sac.
“So you want me out…huh?” I asked him
He just laughed at me, “nah dude, i’m letting you and ‘xan’ be together…besides, since you guys have been apart, your gaze has been glued onto her the entire time!!” he said fiddling with the house keys.
“you’re exaggerating…” I said putting the lighter back in my bag.
“exaggerating?…..” he laughed, “says the man who stares at her ASS all the freaking time…” He just sat there leaning up against the wall, searching his pockets for his cigs. When he found them, he smiled and placed it in his mouth and lighted it. “Beshides,” he sucked in some smoke then breathed it out, “shes pwetty cyute huh?”
“….” His cig made him hard to understand… “says you…”
“pathetic dude!” he said with the cig in his fingers… “seen the new nurse? I can spot a pretty thing from a mile away…she has a shitty attitude, but she is fiiiine….. besides, shes nice to me dude. And also,” he said placing the cig back in his mouth, “agwain…..xwan’s..” his eyes got happy… “I mean seriously! have you seen them?!” his cig fell out of his mouth leaving a scorch mark on the carpet.
“…..man……go to an all girls school..” is all i could manage to say… my bag thrown over my shoulder now and heading to the front door. “im coming back here when she freaks out that im back, last night was the exception….”
“pfft, if you cant appreciate the good things in life hers…then your not a man…” Axel said, a evil look on his face.
“Dammit Axel! I am a man, I have seen them! Ive seen her naked and I have dressed her wounds and I know every inch of her damn body better then you will ever know!!!” I said fast and in a infuriated tone, I was pissed now. Of course I noticed her…boobs….just cause I don’t talk about it doesn’t mean i’m not a man….
I opened the door, “I hope she throws me out so then you have no shit to hold against me! and so I can pummel you into the damn ground!” I yelled slamming the door behind me.
“you would…” I said to myself
**********
I must look like a fish. My mouth kept opening and closing, trying to get words out. I was gaping, shocked to see the petite blond woman in front of me. When i came to the nurse’s office to get vitamins for terra, Larxene Breeson was the last person i was thought I would see.Her green eyes stared at me with a glint; it frighten me. The blonde friend cackled evilly.
“Nice to see you, too, “Xan”…or should I say, “Aqua”?” Larxene smirked. “You’re wondering why I’m here?” I nodded slowly, to make sure I didn’t lose my head anymore than I felt I have. Her expression softened slightly. “I was worried…You haven’t called or lettered any of us for a long while…We were worried that…” she looked down. She didn’t need to finish her sentence. I guessed what they thought. I stepped towards her.
Larxene Breeson was one of my best friends (and the one of two that was a girl, not including Xion). four years my senior, Larxi was the one who helped me the most get into the Army through connections.
“Larxi….” I hugged her. “I’m sorry…I’ve been a little…busy.” With Terra…”Xion’s here too, isn’t she?” Larxene nodded.
“But do not worry! I have her staying with me in an apartment in town. I’m wont let any of these little boys touch my Babydoll!” I smiled at Xion’s pet name.
We talked for nearly two hours catching up on each others lives. it was after one when I left, thanking her for the vitamins and watching over xion.
**********************
I slammed my stuff down at the front door of my old-new house again.
I sat down on the front step, staying out in the heat not doing anything.
I laid my head on the door and shut my eyes, “….”
After a bit of sitting there, everything went black, and being sleep deprived, it was easy to pass out.
I woke up a bit later and it was still hotter then hell out.
I looked around realizing where I was.
I reached over to the bricks and grabbed the key.
I unlocked the door and pressed thru it while on my knees and dragged my bag behind me.
I felt sicker then this morning, but why it was getting worse, i wasn’t sure.
I left the bag halfway between the door and the bed, along with the keys.
I dragged my weak body to my bed, and pulled myself up onto it, wanting to pass out again.
My body was covered in sweat, and my clothes were almost drenched.
*************
I arrived at the barrack to find the door open wide. when i peered through the doorway. To my surprise, a bag was on the floor next to it. I pushed some of it away with my foot in order to close the door. “I guess this is Terra’s stuff…”
Behind me i heard a noise. turning around i saw that it was terra. Again was shocked. Not because he was there, but because he looked ill. I reached my hand towards him to feel heat rising off him. Sigh…
“Terra” i gently called to him. He opened one eye a sliver. “Terra, Ignis already told me about you staying here again,” I told him as I pushed hair off his pale face. I walked back over to the door, closing it, and moved his stuff at the end of his bed. I went to the kitchen to fill a large bowl of cool water and a clean washcloth. I walked back to him with items in tow.
“Terra, I’m going to undress you…No, don’t argue. You undressed me; this is only fair”-I pushed gently on his chest to make him understand that I was in charge-”Now hold your arms up so I can take your shirt off.” He held them up and helped take off his over and under shirt. I moved now and removed his boots, but I let him remove his pants.I threw his clothes in a hamper.
A damp washcloth in hand, I slowly began to wipe off the sweat that glisten on his legs, arms, and chest. I softly dab at his face.
********************
I was burning up, and the cloth was cold, but I wasn’t going to complain. It felt good right now.
I was in my boxers still, but having her touch me, it was odd.
I have seen her glance at my body before, probably because I have abs and lots of muscle but who knows what goes thru womans head.
I sighed and stayed as still as I could for her…I didn’t really want to make her job any harder.
I shivered every time she placed the cold cloth on my body, the hot then cold wasn’t mixing well.
I coughed a bit, then I rolled over, facing the wall again.
I stayed like that for a bit then i rolled onto my back and then placed my feet over the edge if the bed.
I stood up slowly, mumbling a thanks and stumbled to the nearest wall…. this wasn’t an ordinary cold……
I blinked slowly trying to see, but my vision was going in and out…this was..something worse then a cold…
I felt heavy, but i still tried to make it to the door, following the door.
“….A…A-a….aqua…” I said…trying to say that I needed off the compound, but with that, i fell to the floor, unconscious.
*****************
“Terra!” I watched as he collapsed. Jumping up, I ran over to his side and tried to stir him. “”Terra? Terra?! Terra!” I felt panic bubble in my chest. “Shit! Oh, fuckin’ shit!” I stood up. Nervously biting my bottom lip, I walked over to the phone, hovering my hand over it but stopped. “Crap!” I had forgot that it was broken! I looked back over to Terra.
I rolled him over onto his back. Squatting in front of him, I pulled his arms over my shoulders. I linked my arms under his legs. I lifted him onto my back. I was going to carry him to the Wing.
I managed open the door but couldn’t close it. I was at the end of the barrack lane when I saw Ingis. “General! General! It’s Terra! He’s collapsed!”
**************
Axel came running towards aqua and relieved her of the weight onto his own back.
“what happened?” he demanded.
He started walking to the infirmary before she started to tell him what happened then what she was planning on doing.
Axel then started at a faster pace, jogging to the med wing, and said “this isnt good…” after Aqua told him what his symptoms were.
Aqua just looked at him with a questioning face, “Wh-a..” she began before she was cut off by axel.
“Terra sounds like he has Pneumonia.” He was panting cause he picked up his speed, “Terra had it when he was fifteen after being tied by the town bully to a pole in the middle of a thunderstorm….” He was almost to the infirmary, “once you get it, it’s easier for you to get it again, and its more deadly.” He barged in through the door and made a straight ‘B’ line to where the new nurse was stationed.
He got into her office and laid him on a chair while looking for her.
When he found her he told her everything, catching her up to speed, she showed him to a back, private room, and told Axel she would find the doctor.
Axel laid terra gently down onto the table, positioning him so he would be comfortable, he still had a fever, and a sweat still going.
Axel sat down, shaking his head, “idiot…”
Aqua just looked around and paced back and forth, worried, angry, and more worried.
Larxene came back in with a tall muscular man with shoulder length sepia-pink hair.
He extended his hand, “Hi, my name is Dr. Marluxia Dawson. Nice to meet you.” he said, he had a deep voice but then shied away from aqua to face Axel, “report…” he said, then axel went into his rant.
Marluxia then went over to where Terra laid and felt his head, then the back of his neck.
He gave him a quick diagnosis, then turned back to Axel, “Are you sure?” he asked the redhead, who nodded back a quick yes.
Marluxia then turned to the blonde assistant and started to bark orders left and right, “I need Piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium injection…now!” he barked.
Axel asked him what the hell it was for and the pink haired man replied, “it’s a antibiotic to help treat pneumonia…if thats what it is this will help him. but if it isnt that, his condition may become worse….” Marluxia turned to his clipboard and jotted down a few notes and then left the room.
The blonde came back in with the antibiotic and then doctor followed behind again, with a syringe in his hand. he took the antibiotic from Larx, and filled his syringe with the clear liquid
While the doctor was doing that, Larxene was administering a IV to drip into terra, which was dripping for a bit before marluxia went over and placed the syringe in the IV and squeezed it making all the liquid mix together and drip down into terra’s body.
Marluxia was cleaning up when he looked at axel and the worried Aqua, “the combination of Piperacillin and tazobactam help eliminates the bacteria that causes pneumonia, I just need to add it to his IV for about thirty minutes, three or four times a day….”
He gathered up more supplies and threw away the syringe and looked at the two of him, “I don’t know how long he will be in here since it depends on how the infection and symptoms respond to this medication.” With that the man left
*********
It’s been nine days since Terra had collapsed. And nine days of living hell.
Because Terra was my partner for duties, i was partner-less, which meant I was forced to work with Cox. Before Terra, Cox was just an asshole who messed with me a little more than the others; after he came, he started harassing us both. But it’s even worse without Terra beside me.
For all nine days, the Ass and I had been working in the Gardens behind the Mess Hall. During which he would hover an inch too close, nearly breathing down my neck and peering over my shoulder. And he kept touching me -he said it was on ‘accident’, but I would sooner believe that a mouse would become king of a magical world than his rubbish. Cox’s presence began to give me the willies, making my skin crawl and my stomach twist in knots.
Today was no different. I was working harder than him as normal on some very stubborn weeds, my shirt completely drenched in my own sweat -but I could not take it off for fear of exposing my secret anymore- when I felt his beady little brown eyes on my back. I clenched my jaw. He had been doing this as well; watching nearly everywhere i went. How much I missed Terra and Fair who had been re-stationed again. They seem to have kept him at bay, without our knowing. I felt him approach me, kneeling in the dirt; our shoulders touched for the briefest of a moment. I flinched away.
“Sweet Little Pri. Kou, working so hard all alone,” he purred into my ear, his voice seeming to drip in too much honey. “I must say, you truly deserve a nice little break…”- I saw him eye me up and down. Ugh!- “Maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you slack a little. If!”- he touched my bare arm, making me shiver despite the warm air and burning sun-”if you come back to my place and, well,…shall we see what happens from there?” He grinned and leered like a cat corning his prey.
I backed away from him. “W-what? What are you saying…?” I asked, my voice cracking. What the hell is he going on about? I narrowed my eyes at him. He reached his hand for my face. I stood up. So did he.
“Come now…”
“S-stop!”
“Private Kou!” A voice cut between us. I turned my head to see Dr. Dawson walking towards; his face looked calm, neutral, but his blue eyes were narrowed in a dark way, glaring at Cox’s direction. He continued to glare at him, but he addressed me. “I’ve been looking for you. I am in need of your service with in the infirmary. Ms. Breeson is out running errands.” I nodded swiftly, stepping towards him.
“Oi! Kou is on garden dut-” Cox started, but was intrude by the doctor.
“Yes, I’m aware of that, Sergent Cox, hence, why I asked the Uppers first. Now, come along, Kou.” That was the end of any agurement Cox might have tried to make. I followed the doctor. After a while, he spoke again. “Ms Kou, are you all right?”-I must have looked startled, for he explained- “Ms Breeson told me the grounds behind your feigning of a fellow.” I blushed. He smiled. “She seems to show great affection for you and the younger Ms Kou.” We arrived at the wing. Walking over to his desk, he picked up a large pile of papers. He held them out for me to take. “Shall we make our slander into a truth? I need someone to file these while I’m on a conference call. After you’re done, you may go to your usual post by his side.” Blushing, I mumbled a thank you and began to file.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So, Terra’s ‘till out ‘old?” Lee March asked as he and Ryan Johnson sat across from me later that day in the Mess Hall. They were fellow privates. Lee’s thick accent always made me laugh.
“Yeah, how he holdin’ up?” Ryan echoed, smiling broadly.
“He’sine, as much as I can see…” I replied. Terra and I have worked with the two of them at points. Lee was a tall thin man with Dirty blonde hair, brown eyes, and a crooked nose. Freckles dotted across his face. Ryan was shorter, about my height of five eight, dark brown haired tanned-skin man with a barrel chest and meaty arms to match. His black eyes were slanted downward.
“And h’w it goes ‘ith Cow?” Lee asked. He blamed his accent for missaying Cox’s name, but I figured it was just his dislike of the man. I shrugged. Both of them volunteered to work with me, but Cox wasn’t listening.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I said before I took a bite out of whatever was on my plate.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Unfortunately, I turned out wrong.
“Ugh!” I pushed open the barrack door. It was really the summer time. The sky had been cloudless, letting the sun hit on me more than normal. I was covered in sweat. I unbutton my shirt and pants and tossed them on the floor near my bed, missing the hamper. I bent over to pick the clothes up when i heard clapping. I turned around, wide eyed.
Cox was standing in the doorway. “Well, well, well! What do we have here?” he sneered. I gulped. he looked at my binded chest. “It looks like sweet little Private Kou is a sweet little girl!” It all happened very fast. I tried to push past him, but he grabbed my arm and slammed me against the wall. A pain split through my head. “Well, this all explains so much, Kou…” he spat angrily, wrapping a large hand around my neck, pushing me hard on the wall. “You’ve been making me question my…manliness. Ah, all those sleepless nights, you invaded my dreams, oh, how you invaded them. The images of you under me, mewing, making me warm.” He licked the length of my neck then bite down hard. I wanted to shout out but his hand gripped my throat too tightly. Tears began to form. “I was helpless; i couldn’t stop watching you, wanting you.”-his hand crept along the inside of my thighs;the tears fall-”I thought if I punished you with chores and drills that would be enough, but then that little boy appeared. Oh, I wanted you even more then. Someone else started looking at you, too. And you looked back. But never at me.” I could feel his swollen groin against my legs.
“You never looked at me that way. Your look of longing. but now,”-he crushed my lips with his, licking me, feeling me. “ I’m so glad you’re a woman, but you still made me crave things, unholy things…You should”- he ripped my binding of my chest, ; my skin burned from the pull-” take responsibly!” He began to pull at my underwear, but i couldn’t stand it anymore, the disgust and fear twisting my insides. I flew my knee upwards, hitting his area. Groaning in pain, he fell to the left. I groped for my shirt off the ground, covered my chest, and flew out the door on trembling legs to the only place my distorted mind could think of.
**********
I slowly started to stir…..My body was so…sore….stiff and i could barely move my arms.
I groaned trying to roll over, or at least open my eyes.
I struggled with that for a bit until I finally got one opened, a few minutes passed before i could get the other open.
When I did I looked around, I was in a medium sized white room, with medical appliances.
I looked to my right and a sleeping aqua slept.
I sat up propping myself upon some pillows.
I looked back to where aqua was sitting, and I followed her hand, she was holding mine, I sort of blushed a bit, I wonder how long she was there.
I blinked a couple times to clear my blurry vision. I finally got a closer look, aqua, she was bruised, covered in dirt, only in her underwear, which was torn a bit, and in a dirty shirt that was covered in more mud, her face was smeared, with streaks of water and dirt.
She had her feet drawn up in the chair with her, sitting to the side.
I looked around some more, and my eyes gazed at the IV that was in my arm, right then a tall man entered the room and smiled, I smiled back and somewhat relaxed.
“Mar, nice to see you ,” I laughed.
“Nice to see you too my friend, tho I have to admit, under these circumstances, its not ideal…” He walked over and slowly started to unhook all the machines from me, I was relieved to have someone like him taking care of me.
The man smiled again seeing me eye his every movement, “Miss. Kou there…” he gestured to Aqua, “She’s been here every spare moment the lass gets….” He moved closer to the girl after he took at the crap i was hooked up to off of me.
He examined her closely, “well i must say, this lass…well she has never appeared here in such a manner, something must have… Its best she tell you…” with that marluxia told me what happened to me, what he did, and how long i had been out.
I nodded, listening intently to what he had to say, and when he was finished, he left swiftly, and i swung my legs over the side of the bed, I opened up my hand and gently placed hers on her lap,
I went over to get my pants and i slipped them on, taking off whatever marluxia put on me, one of those hospital gowns, and threw it away, I had pants and a shirt, but I decided to not put it on.
I went over to where aqua was sleeping and sat across from her on the bed, I gently touched her face, I looked at her body, “…” I wondered what happened…or if she would even tell me…
I bent over her, and kissed her on the lips gently but full of passion.
She jumped, eyes becoming wide opened and she gasped, almost ready to flee and push me away.
I sat back down onto the bed and just looked at her.
I grabbed my shirt from the dresser, and threw it to her, “put it on,” I commanded gently
I stood up and faced away, so she would have a bit of privacy for when she would put the shirt on.
Instead of hearing anything objection to the shirt, or a thank you, I felt her hands slowly hug me from behind, her bare skin touching mine, I shivered, her body so close to mine.
She placed her tear stained face on my back.
We just sat there in silence not saying anything, I placed my hands on her arms that were wrapped around me, I sighed, it felt good to have her touch me again.
I slowly turned around and faced her, resting my hand upon her cheek, I just looked at her and then bent down and kissed her on her lips.
I glanced at her body.
I took her hand, leading her over to the chair again, only after I shut and locked the door to my room. I sat her down on the chair and I kneeled in front of her.
I looked at her in the eyes, “What happened?” I asked.
She seemed reluctant to tell me, like usually didn’t want to burden me.
“What happened to you? you’re bruised, dirty, hardly anything on you, your underwear is almost falling off…” I stood up and sat on the bed, holding her hand, waiting for her to answer me.
*********************
My lip was trembling. When I opened my mouth, a large sob boke out. “He-he-he k-k-now….He knows…He knows, T-t-erra, he knows!” My voice sounded far and distorted; my throat raw from his grip and my sobs. “He knows!” Great large tears flooded down my face. I squeezed them shut, my hand holding on tighter to Terra’s hand; Terra’s warm kind hand. I missed his warmth. I held his hand to my face, hoping somehow it would help me forgot everything else.
***********************
I waited for her to let go of my hand and I stood up, and went to the door, I unlocked it and threw it open, I pretty much ran out of the building still shirtless, and looked around for Cox.
He messed with the wrong woman….my woman, and now he was going to get it…
I looked around the compound and I found him.
He was in the mess hall, all normal, and was eating and sipping his damn drink like nothing happened.
I walked over to him, and everyone was watching me, the tall muscular guy walking towards the skinny drill sergeant.
I was pissed and you could see it on my face, only one person would lay a hand on her.
When I got to cox, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him out of his chair and out the building.
I yelled before we left that this was a training exercise and that people should carry on what they were doing.
When we got out back to where the Generators where. I threw him down onto the ground
The sounds of all the generators there would block out any sounds Cox was about to make.
“YA DAMN BASTARD!” I yelled kneeling on top of him, hitting his face, “Think you could get away with this did ya?” I punched him the opposite way
I got up and pulled him to his feet and punched him again. He flew back and hit a tree and slid down the bark
He didn’t fight back, it’s not that he didn’t want to, it was because he couldn’t.
I pulled him to his feet again, and kept holding him up when there was a stinging on my chest and I stumbled backwards….Cox Had A knife… “fighting dirty eh?” I said with a smirk
I stumbled back to him and punched him again sending him flying back, tho he stood up again and flailed the knife, cutting my arm, then my chest again, then the neck.
I shook my head to get the dizziness to go away, not only was I covered in sweat, but dirt and blood was caked onto my body.
I went over to him and took the knife out of my hand and placed it at his neck, “You leave Xan alone, he didn’t do anything to you!”
I threw the knife into the ground hard and walked away.
“Shes a woman, she won’t get away with it,” cox replied, staggering, and laughing evilly.
“No…” I said…” You won’t get away with it….” With that I left him alone behind the mess hall and stumbled back into the med wing and to the room I first came out of.
I walked in and saw a surprised aqua.
“there…’ I said, swaying back and forth and then sat on the bed, He shouldn’t mess with you anymore, I thought. I coughed a bit, spitting up blood. Damn bastard, I thought, Dirty trick. I looked at my hand that was over the part of my stomach that cox stabbed me….it was covered in blood. I wiped my face to get all the dirt, blood and sweat off.
But I wasn’t done with him yet…..
*******************
“Terra! What did you do, you stupid idiot?!” I quickly drew the sheets off the cot and held it agaisnt his bleeding stomach. More tears continued to fall. He was bleeding a lot. “Terra! There’s blood everywhere!”
“Indeed…Terra, you have just recuperated from a serious affliction, and yet, you recklessly go out and get your sellf hurt…sigh.” I looked over Terra’s border shoulder.
“Dr. Dawson! Please, help!” I panicked to him. Blood was still flowing.
“Hm. Terra, please sit on the cot and let me truss your wound.” He opened a cabinet, pulling out disinfection and bandages. He place them on the cot and began to address the wounds. “Done, You may take leave, but please, I do not wish to see you again, at the very least, in this building.” He stood up. “i’ll be going first. Ms Kou, Terra” he nodded at us then left. I looked at Terra.
“Sigh…Tell me what you did when we get back…” I told him as I held out my hand. He took it in his, pulling himself up. I wrapped my arm around his back, to support him since he was sick (and now loss a lot of blood).
I gulped and pushed the door of the barrack open with the boots I borrowed from the Wing. I felt sick walking back in, but carried on with Terra. Releasing from each other, he went to his bed and slowly laid down as I shut the door and locked it with both its locks.
I walked to Terra and peered down at him, He had one arm over his face, making it hard to know what his expression was. I waited a moment, then laid next to him. Wanting to make sure he was alive (and wanting his comfort), I rested my right ear over his chest where his heart beat oddly even beneath his tanned skin. Ba-dum, ba-dum. I closed my eyes, resting my left hand on his stomach, sighing both relief and nervous. “Terra…what did you do to…Cox…?” Surprisingly, my voice was calm and even.
***********************************
I sighed and removed my arm from my face and rested it on aquas shoulders, I shivered a bit from her being so close but I got a little used to it.
“After you somewhat told me what he did….” I turned my head away, “I went after him, I wanted his blood. When I found him I took him out back behind the mess hall and started to beat the crap out of him….he couldn’t do anything, as skinny as he is…he had no chance. I threw him up against a tree and when I thought he was done, he pulled a army knife…” I placed my other hand to the wound on my stomach, “And that’s when he stabbed me… so he brought a knife to a fist fight, I roughed him up more, and in return gave me the other wounds…..” I coughed and I wiped my mouth, still bloody… I sighed still turned away so she couldn’t see I was still coughing up blood.
I wiped my hand on my dark pants to get rid of the blood that started to dry and went on… “After I got the knife from him, I held it to his neck so he knew I meant business….” I relaxed my shoulders a bit, “and i left him there after another hit….he threatened me that you won’t be here for long….” I looked at her, face to face, eyes to eyes, “I returned the threat, he won’t be here any longer, I give him by the end of the week if I can’t do what I want to do by tomorrow.”
*****************
I lift myself up. Hovering over him, I studied his face and eyes. He still looked paler than normal. We stared at each other; his expression blank, mine worried. I leaned in close, feeling his breath upon my lips before I kissed him. Just a simple kiss. I moved back. The air felt heavy around us.
“Terra…please…” I paused, wondering if I really want to ask my question, scared to know the answer. “Tell me, while you slept, did you dream? What did you dream of?” I decided to ask something else, keeping the true question hidden.
*****************
I slowly sat up, resting my back against the wall and said yes.
I looked around the room, careful not to look at her, “I dreamed I was back on my farm…Beautiful days, must have been the harvesting season since the wheat was fully grown. I dreamed you were there,” I glanced at her quickly before looking away and moving on. “The sky was as blue as can be, and we were in the wheat field together, walking hand in hand. After a while we laid on our backs gazing up to the sky, our heads almost touching each other,” I sighed a bit, did I really want to tell her this?
Did I really want to disclose what I think about when I’m asleep…I wonder how she felt that she invaded my dreams..
I still continued on, “Mama was in the house Zack and I wanted to get her, and we took over my farm, you had your own mare you took care of and rode everyday….she was such a beautiful creature, every night we would come home and eat dinner together, and then go to bed together.” I looked back at her for a second, “It felt so real, you have no idea….”
I clenched my hands, “Then before I became conscious, you went missing. My good dream, turned to a nightmare…..you said I was out for over week, well my dream only lasted a few hours, or atleast thats what It felt like.” I bowed my head and rested it in my hands.
************
“Terra….” I moved his hands from his face and lift his chin, trying to catch his eye. “When you were in the Wing, I was by your side every moment I could spare. I know Dr. Dawson told you that, but I wish to tell you from my own being.” I paused, looking down at my lap. “I was so scared the day you collapsed. I carried you down the lane until I meet Ingis. He carried you the rest.
“Every night I fell asleep, holding your hand, hoping that when I opened my eyes, so would you. While you dreamed, I did not. I felt too drained from worry and duties.” I looked at him. “I thought a lot about things, though. About my future, what I’ve done, us mainly. I realized I missed your presence…even more than Xan’s, or my parents…more than anyone else’s.” I blushed, not from embarrassment, but from something deeper, more powerful. “I thought about how much I use to dream about being on the Special Task Force, like my mother, but now wanting more than that. I realized I wanted more things that were neither objects nor titles. I wanted family.” I smiled. “ And I thought of the little boy I met one summer, years ago.(At this I saw Terra briefly meeting my eyes, before looking away again) I miss the boy I liked, but I love the man he became. I realized this when Cox attacked me yesterday.” I shiver from the memory.
I look at Terra with what I hoped to be an expression of the deep and powerful emotion that would play the strings of my heart in a song that could not be easily told in just mere words.
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I sat there trying to take in all that she said…..I was…confused.
Was that…it was.
She loved me….and realized it when Cox went after her.
I spread my feet apart and pulled her to my bandaged chest and held her tight.
“Aqua…” I said, muffled thru her hair. “I love you…”
I didn’t know what else to say to her, but i felt that this was enough.
I pulled her tighter to me, not caring about the pain.
I kissed her head and just sat there not saying anything
twinsfiction 