melodiesoflife | The Missing Link...

Entry tags:

The Missing Link...

Who: Zelda & OPEN
What: Link is gone. [ooc: Feel free to run into her wherever.]
When: Feb 7th: Return from Chocobo Trip and then onward.
Where: Home (A-16), Hospital & Finally Old observatory.
Warning: Just Tears.

At first everything was normal, Zelda walked into her home with her travel bag slung over her shoulder. She was tired and was looking forward to a bath and a bed but there was something she wanted to do first. With a soft thunk she placed the bag down and then worked to unlace her riding boots. Once they were off she slipped out of her jacket and then pulled off her muddy stockings. She stepped inside and wiggled her toes against the clean floor with a smile.

“Link?” She called his name lightly as she moved through the house, her fingers laced through her hair and began to pull the loose strands of blonde into a tight pony tail. “Link?” Her tone shifted from a light tone to a worried one. She stepped through the house peeking into his room and then hers. She checked the kitchen and then the family room before walking back towards the front of the house. He wasn’t home, except that she had told him the time and date she’d return. Link would be here.

---

Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as she pulled on a lose pair of brown work boots, leaving her jacket behind as she bolted from the house. Over and over again she heard like a round in her head.

He can’t be there. He can’t be.

The words repeated again and again becoming an ominous chant in her thoughts as she ran towards the hospital. Everything ached and she felt exhaustion creeping through her limbs as she ran. The cold air bit at her exposed arms and legs but she didn’t care, she couldn’t feel it. The only thing she felt was a sharp twist in her chest as she ran.

He can’t…

She didn’t stop at the hospital steps; she took them two at a time and then raced up to where the heroes were kept. She bolted passed those who guarded the door earning her dark glares from the men who now constantly patrolled the room where the heroes were kept.

Her feet skidded to a halt, her eyes fixed on the familiar crystal shape and she felt her heart tear apart at the sight. He’d wake up again, he had too. Just because he was here now didn’t mean he would be trapped forever. She felt the presence of the others trapped, like Link, in a veneer of stone. She felt herself crumble to the ground as warm tears spilled down her cheeks. She tried to stop them but she had been trying so hard not to cry that everything just spilled out all at once. She cried and cried until there was nothing left inside of her, her soul felt empty and drained. Then she slept, her body reaching its point of exhaustion as she lies at Link’s feet.

---

A few days later Zelda can be found in the Old Observatory. She had refused to go back to the empty house, unwilling to see the home she had created with Link. Kopula began doing more work and calling in a few of his friends insisting that Zelda rest.

Zelda didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts; she wanted to keep moving, to fight of her fears and nightmares with hard grueling work. Her work consisted mostly of physical labor, letting Kopula take care of matters of state using Zelda’s signature. She had washed the floors, cleaned the stables, scrubbed down the kitchen, shook out and washed the bedding and then rearranged a few of the rooms. She was never out of things to do because once something was clean she’d then clean it again.

She didn’t smile, her expression was blank as if content with the mindless tasks that she set herself to. He’d come back and it would be fine. She just had to believe that but losing your best friend, the closest person too you, was hard; even for what might be a short time.

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Still, it concerned Sephiroth what Cid might think of moogles doing the work he had delegated to Ashelia as part of the Heroes Guild. From what he knew of the caretaker-to-the-throne, he figured it wouldn't go down very well. Sephiroth wasn't one for paperwork at all, but made a mental note to at least look in on the office to make sure it wasn't as much chaos as he imagined it might be.

"Yes." Sephiroth snap-turned his head back to Zelda where he'd looked at Kopula directly in response to that small cough; about to scold the moogle for being insensitive or abrupt towards Zelda, had she not then responded. "And hopefully for more than five minutes, on this occasion."

He tried to keep his tone light and then stepped into the room, eyeing the closet she were trying to move -just once- before looking back to her again. Dark circles were something he were starting to sport too; only his were brought from over-work and physical exhaustion as opposed to what he now suspected were afflicting Zelda. Spencer hung back in the doorway, looking on with concern and twisting his paws together idly in front of him.

"How are you? Felt like a change around?" An open gesture at the room which was in the process of being re-arranged, he'd heard from Kopula already how many times she'd cleaned it top-to-bottom before becoming dissatisfied and overhauling it.

"I'm always happy to see you for more than five minutes."

Zelda smiled weakly at Sephiroth and moved away from the large closet. She looked around the room at his prompting and felt herself shake her head. "I wanted to make sure we were using the space to it's fullest but it doesn't feel right." She couldn't admit the real reason why nothing seemed to feel right.

Her dimmed blue eyes move to rest on Sephiroth. She felt exhausted now that she had stopped working.

"Can I get you something to drink? I have tea?" She hoped that a glass of warm tea might wake her up and hep her stay at attention.

As Zelda moved away from the closet Sephiroth moved just slightly, so that he was closer to it, a kind-of barrier between her and the task of moving it herself that she'd decided to undertake. Not that Zelda weren't one of the strongest of the Heroes of Light --far from it-- but the underlying reasons she might have picked up this peculiar behavior weren't to be encouraged.

If it had been anyone else in her position, Sephiroth wouldn't have felt half so-inclined to intervene. It almost felt as if he had a duty towards her, being as they were both part of that dwindling first batch of Heroes. Not only that, even, Zelda had been the first to insist that she were his friend...when he'd been so stubborn as to refuse all acknowledgment of the same.

"I think that's a good idea. Taking a break might help you to re-focus." In other words, if he could get her to step away from this toxic situation of being dissatisfied with everything, it might help to clear her head.

On the other hand, maybe the tea might help her to relax...maybe even sleep.

"Shall we?" Sephiroth gestured towards the door, where Spencer made a big effort in seeming less worried than he had a moment ago. Grinning and bouncing a little in the air, backing up out of the doorway some.

Zelda nodded her head, flashed Spencer a weak smile and then headed towards the door. From there she slipped down the hall and then over towards the small kitchen she had outfitted in the observatory. It helped considering how often she spent her time here.

She set the water to boil and then began to remove the teapot, the tea leaves and cups from the various cupboards. It didn't take very long but the task was approached with a quick sort of efficiency as if she's done it a hundred times before now.

"You like black tea right?"

Zelda looked back at him for a brief confirmation before continuing.

Spencer proceeded to follow them, yet kept a fair distance behind as Sephiroth and Zelda slipped down the hall. He knew the layout of the Observatory well enough to know that the small pantry-like kitchen wouldn't be far away and the small moogle didn't want to make either of those Heroes feel cramped.

Even given the lacking room though, Zelda would find that when she reached to open the cupboard that's a little higher up, Sephiroth had already done so and was carefully taking the required crockery down and placing it all neatly on the side next to where the water were boiling. He shot her a glance and a quick smile, after her question, as he stepped back; he'd at least let her do the rest.

"It's one of those that I like, yes."

He wants to talk about her, and if she's really doing alright or not but for the time being the conversation doesn't seem to have presented an opportunity for him to do so.

Zelda smiled at him as he proceed to help her. They've done this a few times and it was no surprise that the talented soldier might step in to help rather watch Zelda struggle on her tippy toes. She should really just put everything in a place where she could reach it.

"I'm glad I remembered."

She felt herself relax though it was just a little bit.

"It should be ready soon."

Zelda placed the dark leaves in the water and then flipped a small hourglass she had on the counter. There were three, each one a different size and set to time a different type of tea. She had them made when she stared staying at the Observatory more. As the tea seeps she looked up at Sephiroth curiously. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Most come to the Observatory with questions.

Given the additional mog-help that the Observatory is receiving it probably doesn't take much to excuse the fact that things may be stored above head-height. Moogles didn't have to worry about things falling on their head when they could just hover up to a higher shelf.

He looked to the hourglass she picked when the tea was set to steep, noting as well the other two that were on the side. It was mundane, indeed, but seemed a handy set to have; after all different teas did need different brew times. Sephiroth blew some air out of his nose at that thought, in something of a chuckle, only recently had he even come to appreciate tea at all. Like a lot of things in life that he'd never had the time for, before.

Catching Zelda's eye contact a moment later just as she asked her question, Sephiroth leaned back against the opposite side of the small pantry and took the opportunity for a longer look over Zelda. He couldn't well lie to her, after all, honesty was one of his defining qualities. Best to get it over with, right?

"Actually, I would ask you exactly the same question. If it wouldn't seem too friendly for me to ask how you're doing?"

Zelda opened her mouth as if to speak however after a moment of confused silence she closed it again. She watched the timer inspecting each little grain of sand as it shifted and fell into the glass below. It was hard to describe how she felt though she was starting to feel a little bit better. Day by day the pain ebbed though there was always a weight of loneliness.

"It's getting better." She admitted softly. She wouldn't lie or dance around the subject with Sephiroth. "I've been trying to distract myself though I've had a few visitors and friends who've helped."

She smiled wistfully. "I'm trying not to push myself very hard but it's difficult." She didn't want to cry so she began to fuss with the tea as the timer reached it's end. "I don't know if he'll wake up this time." She thought things were getting better.

Herewith another who had been shaken to their core by the vision that the Sage had imparted? It seemed like it, but given the amount of time --much like him-- that she'd been here and what they'd seen during that time that didn't seem to make very much sense. To Sephiroth at least it seemed to be the 'newer' Heroes who had been affected more; those that perhaps had a doubt how this place invariably threw all sorts of waves for them to weather or crumble at.

Not that it excused it, at all, but where Zelda had always been so positive and full of energy before, being in her presence while she was like this only served to heighten Sephiroth's concern for her. He knew that she'd recently lost someone special to the stasis and while he didn't know Link half as well as perhaps he should have made an effort to; he knew what that felt like also.

"Hey-" He leaned forward as she turned back to the tea but didn't move to prevent her from doing so; overbrewed tea of this type was really something else.

"-I know that feeling. I know it probably doesn't help to say and I apologize for the assumption but..." Sephiroth stepped a little closer, ready to offer a supportive hand in finishing setting a tray for the tea to go on so that he could carry it to a more comfortable room they could talk within.

"We don't know. But that doesn't mean it's hopeless; we can't do anything to help them, but giving up would help even less."

Edited 2016-03-05 18:23 (UTC)

Zelda smiled softly at him and accepted his help in silence. She let him take the tray placing both cups, the tea pot as well as a small plate of breads on the tray. She looked up at him and nodded signaling that she was finished adding things and they could walk to one of the smaller rooms with chairs for them to sit.

She wanted to keep her spirits up but it was difficult with both Ashelia and Link gone. They had been two people who supported her, in ways she hadn't even realized until they had vanished. There was always the chance that they might come back but Zelda was never sure. She hadn't even added Link's name to the memorial, being unable to do so without bursting into tears.

"Thank you and you're right. I just... I wish there was more I could do." Lately there didn't seem to be enough.

Once the tray was loaded Sephiroth stepped out of the pantry and away into the corridor to allow Zelda the room to lead the way towards whichever of the lounge-like areas she felt comfortable going to. Spencer wasn't anywhere in sight for the moment, likely another mog had come to ask his assistance with something - it wasn't a big deal.

Sephiroth too took great effort in keeping his pace relaxed --no small deal, being a solider-- as he walked a little behind but not too far from Zelda's side. The crockery made noise as it shifted atop the tray but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary; he'd done this a fair few times at home.

"The only thing that can be done is to do what you can to carry on, knowing that Link...or anyone else you care about probably wouldn't want you to be held back by their stasis."

They even sounded like tough words for him to say still, coming from a man who had often felt the weight of the lonely abyss each one of his once-friends had felt behind. It was better now than it had been, but he still didn't visit them often for that exact reason.

Zelda could walk down these halls with her eyes closed given how often she spent her time here. Now as she moved she did so in a trance letting her feet guide them with little instructions. Her thoughts were pulled in many directions and it took great effort to focus on Sephiroth’s words. She knew it to be true but she couldn’t help feeling lost.

It was a feeling she’s been denying for a very long time.

She paused outside of a door, opening it and then holding the wooden plank back for Sephiroth to easily slip through with the tray. Inside was a couch, a coffee table and a few chairs. It looked like a mix between a meeting room and someone’s family room. She had added the more comfortable chairs after realizing that many came to the old observatory and some meetings weren’t meant for the cold seriousness of the large meeting room.

“I know. There is also the chance they’ll be back and we fight, not just for this world but our own.” She exhaled a small breath closing the door as Sephiroth stepped through. “It’s just difficult at times.” She smiled at him. “Having friends helps.”

The only time that Sephiroth wouldn't be able to hold a door open for another person; when he was otherwise engaged such as in this instance in carrying a tray. Still it felt a little strange slipping through into the lounge room first, knowing that Zelda would be close behind him but not daring to twist himself back in anyway to make sure lest he end up spilling those things on the tray.

He semi-casually led them over to one of the arrangements of furniture and lowered the tray down soundlessly down onto a coffee table. They could keep the tea and various accompaniments on the tray and preserve the clean tabletop. After all, it'd only give something else for Zelda to fall back into cleaning again.

"There is always that chance." Though really, the thought stuck a little uncomfortably in his head some as Sephiroth finally sat down; when Angeal had briefly returned Sephiroth hadn't made any effort at all...

"If there is nothing else, it's a difficulty we can all assist each other in coming through."

“Yes.”

Zelda agreed softly as she closed the door behind her. She assumed that Sephiroth would rather speak in private and with the door closed the only interruption they’d have would be the soft knocking of moogle paws. She made her way over to the couch in front of the coffee table and lowered herself gracefully to sit. Her ankles crossed beneath her while her hands reached out to pour them tea.

With that task complete she sat with the steaming liquid in her hands, the heat of the cup providing a small measure of comfort.

“I’m grateful for all the help I’ve gotten.” She was very lucky to have so many wonderful friends.

Gracious as ever with his manners, Sephiroth waited for Zelda to pour and sit back with her tea before poising the rim of his own cup between the very tips of his fingers; given as the heat were a little too hot yet to take fully against the meat of his palm, and gingerly took a sip. He placed it back in the saucer first and then sat back a little, he'd rather wait for it to cool just a little more, than risk burning his lips in the name of courtesy.

"It's hardly a shade on what help you've given to others, I know for a fact."

It didn't need to be said that he included himself in that number. All the times that Zelda's friendly manner had always been there, if not directly at the side of his awareness like a crutch ever. He still recalls, vividly how she'd taken the time to look out for him when the majority of other Heroes had thought it a good idea to infiltrate the Heran Research Facility.

"But..." He leaned forwards to take the teacup again, resting elbows on knees, this time blowing over the surface of the water before taking a longer sip. "...that's still no reason to go through this alone."

His words pierced through her sadness like a ray of sunlight filtering through a thick mass of gray clouds. Much like Sephiroth, they were straight forward and to the point. It meant a great deal to her to hear them though she didn’t know if she could voice that feeling appropriately. She was truly blessed to have Sephiroth, and everyone, there for her.

She smiled at him. The happiness from the expression reached upward and filled her eyes with their usual warm glow which before now had been absent.

“Thank you. I know I’m not alone.”

There was no doubt in her mind that she wasn’t alone and she felt foolish for trying to act as if she was. They all have their faults but being stubborn usually does more harm than good.

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The Missing Link...

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb

Old Observatory -- after they return to Aqures; 12th Feb