Post by ღMax on Jan 26, 2012 22:05:30 GMT -5
The rhythm of the rain hitting the pavement was steady for the moment, the sky dark with layer upon layer of cloud and smog. The weather was dreary on this chilly evening, bordering on miserable. The people of Midgar had all retreated home to their families, or in some cases, to empty boxes in alleyways or homeless shelters to wait out the storm. Those who hadn’t quite made it home were running under the cover of umbrellas and jackets, wondering why they had bad luck enough to get caught in the rain.
Dozens of people ran home.
One person ran away.
Footsteps pounded on the wet asphalt, accented by sharp, heavy breathing. Tears ran down the runner’s face, mixing with the rain and becoming lost. The runner stopped, leaning over with her hands on her knees, panting and fighting back sobs. The week had started out blissfully, perfectly. She’d been happy with Reno, delightfully unaware of the pain she’d been causing. The memory of Vexel’s face when she’d told him hit her like a freight train, taking her breath away.
“Reno and I shared a paopu, Vexel, we’re bound.”
A grimace, as if he’d been struck. Glassy eyes, pained, unfocused. Tears running down his smooth face as he excused himself. Her confusion as he ran; the confusion turning to shock and crushing guilt as she was told of his feelings. She was so oblivious to how he felt, and she had walked all over his feelings. She’d torn him apart.
“Are you just ignoring the fact, or are you really that blind?”
“What are you talking about, Zel?”
“He loves you, and you just rubbed your happy little relationship in his face.”
“….What?”
The runner began to move again, breathing raggedly as she tried to get away…from her mistakes, from the phantom beating of her guilt-ridden non-heart, from his face—
“Stop…just make it stop!” She shouted to the empty streets. “I don’t want to think about it, I don’t want to feel it, I just want it all to stop!” Her voice cracked, broken by sobs fighting to escape her body. She lost her footing, stumbling to the ground with a grunt. Before she knew it, she was up and running again, not even sure where she was going anymore. She just wanted to be away.
[shadow=navy,left,300]“Max, please come back!”[/shadow]
A voice made her stop short, nearly hitting the asphalt again as she looked around for the source. It was Vexel’s voice, she was sure—the pain was still there, underlying the words that seemed to come from nowhere.
[shadow=maroon,left,300]“Vexel?”[/shadow]
[shadow=navy,left,300]“Please, I’m so sorry, Max. I need you to come back…Reno needs you back, too. I…I promise I won’t do this again, I’ll let you be happy with him, just don’t leave. Please come back!”[/shadow]
The voice almost sounded far away, and yet right next to her, as if Vexel were right in her ear, pleading with her, begging her to come back home…it had to be her imagination. She was miles from ShinRa, and there was no way he’d followed her all this way in the storm.
[shadow=maroon,left,300]“I can’t go back…not now.”[/shadow]
She murmured to herself, slowing to a stop. Her vision blurred with tears, her voice low and strained. “Not after I’ve hurt him so much…” She reached into her pocket, oblivious to the rain falling around her, soaking her, and pulled out a small, roughly round ball of ice. In its depths burned a very real fire, Vexel’s fire, a piece she could keep all to herself.
[shadow=navy,left,300]“But I’ll be okay…I’ll be your friend, you’ll never have to put me back together again. I’ll be okay. Just come home, Maxina…please.”[/shadow]
The voice begged again, stronger now. Maxina frowned, looking closer into the fireball, astonished. Was he…talking to her?
[shadow=maroon,left,300] “Vexel, I can’t…I hurt you so much…and Reno’s so mad at me…”[/shadow]
Reno’s face when she’d told him about Vexel’s breakdown flashed in her mind: annoyance, a slight sneer on his otherwise perfect lips, and a scoff as he turned and left her alone to deal with it herself.
[shadow=navy,left,300]“But we both need you, Max…he-he loves you, and I…”[/shadow] Vexel’s voice wavered. [shadow=navy,left,300]“I need you here. I need you to come back.”[/shadow]Maxina felt a throb of pain radiate through her being at his words. She felt her hand raising, the small pulse of power that it took to open the portal flowing from her fingertips. Staring into the black and violet swirls of the portal, she felt the pull to step forward, to let him draw her back home. He was her best friend, and her designated shoulder to cry on. But it wasn’t really acceptable to cry on the shoulder of the one you’re hurting, is it?
[shadow=navy,left,300] “Please…”[/shadow]
Maxina decided she didn’t care if it was acceptable or not. His face swam in her mind’s eye, and she realized that she needed comfort, and that’s what his strong arms and warm smile had always offered her. She took a step forward into the portal, closing her eyes. It swept her back home, leeching away her body heat as she stepped out into her room.
She opened her eyes to see Vexel standing in front of her, silhouetted in the doorway. A breath of relief escaped him as he staggered forward, engulfing her in his arms, warming her immediately. She took a shaky breath, her face pressed against his chest, arms at her side.
“You’re…gonna get all wet.” She said lamely, trying to alleviate the tension obviously surrounding them.
“I don’t care.” He murmured, holding her tighter. “You’re home, and you’re safe. What’s a little water between friends?” He peeked at her, giving her a small false smile. A broken laugh escaped her lips, turning to a sob before she could put a halt to the sound.
Vexel’s fragile façade crumpled, his arms tightening around her and his head falling to her shoulder. “Please don’t cry, Maxina…please, I can’t take that...” He whispered. “Be mad at me, yell at me, but please don’t cry.”
“I’m so sorry.” Maxina felt her arms lift to wrap tightly around him, clinging to him like an anchor. “If anyone has a right to be mad, it’s you…I hurt you so badly, Vexel, I’m sorry…”
Maxina’s words were bought to a halt with a pair of warm lips as Vexel effectively silenced her.
His lips were soft and yielding and warm and firm and tender and comforting and everything she had ever needed all at the same time. The world narrowed to him and her; his arms around her and her hands on his shoulders and his eyes sliding closed and the slight bump of noses that comes with every first kiss. Her eyes closed and her tears fell, leaving wet trails on her cheeks as he pulled her closer.
She didn’t think of Reno, or how upset he’d be, or how mad he currently was, or how much this simple act would change things. The only thing she thought of was the soft, insistent press of Vexel’s lips and his warm arms around her and the sparks running the length of her spine. It was the most peaceful and perfect moment of her non-life, and it was over all too soon.
He pulled away first, looking at her with a longing sadness in his two-toned eyes. “We’re even.” He whispered quietly, not moving to let her go. She looked up at him, stunned speechless by his actions, but not willing to move just yet.
Maxina couldn’t think, and still couldn’t speak. Silently, she began shaking her head, opening her mouth silently. When no words readily came, she bit her lip, shaking her head still. Finally, she forced the words to come, and the moment they left her, she knew they were true.
“I love you, Vexel…and I’m so sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.”
Speaking the words that finally made the guilt and pain fade, Maxina leaned up and pressed her lips to his again, losing herself to a new beginning. And when the door opened to reveal a very irate redhead with sharp words on his tongue, Maxina turned to face him with Vexel’s hand firmly entwined with her own.
Dozens of people ran home.
One person ran away.
Footsteps pounded on the wet asphalt, accented by sharp, heavy breathing. Tears ran down the runner’s face, mixing with the rain and becoming lost. The runner stopped, leaning over with her hands on her knees, panting and fighting back sobs. The week had started out blissfully, perfectly. She’d been happy with Reno, delightfully unaware of the pain she’d been causing. The memory of Vexel’s face when she’d told him hit her like a freight train, taking her breath away.
“Reno and I shared a paopu, Vexel, we’re bound.”
A grimace, as if he’d been struck. Glassy eyes, pained, unfocused. Tears running down his smooth face as he excused himself. Her confusion as he ran; the confusion turning to shock and crushing guilt as she was told of his feelings. She was so oblivious to how he felt, and she had walked all over his feelings. She’d torn him apart.
“Are you just ignoring the fact, or are you really that blind?”
“What are you talking about, Zel?”
“He loves you, and you just rubbed your happy little relationship in his face.”
“….What?”
The runner began to move again, breathing raggedly as she tried to get away…from her mistakes, from the phantom beating of her guilt-ridden non-heart, from his face—
“Stop…just make it stop!” She shouted to the empty streets. “I don’t want to think about it, I don’t want to feel it, I just want it all to stop!” Her voice cracked, broken by sobs fighting to escape her body. She lost her footing, stumbling to the ground with a grunt. Before she knew it, she was up and running again, not even sure where she was going anymore. She just wanted to be away.
[shadow=navy,left,300]“Max, please come back!”[/shadow]
A voice made her stop short, nearly hitting the asphalt again as she looked around for the source. It was Vexel’s voice, she was sure—the pain was still there, underlying the words that seemed to come from nowhere.
[shadow=maroon,left,300]“Vexel?”[/shadow]
Is anybody out there?
Is anybody listening?
Is anybody listening?
[shadow=navy,left,300]“Please, I’m so sorry, Max. I need you to come back…Reno needs you back, too. I…I promise I won’t do this again, I’ll let you be happy with him, just don’t leave. Please come back!”[/shadow]
The voice almost sounded far away, and yet right next to her, as if Vexel were right in her ear, pleading with her, begging her to come back home…it had to be her imagination. She was miles from ShinRa, and there was no way he’d followed her all this way in the storm.
[shadow=maroon,left,300]“I can’t go back…not now.”[/shadow]
She murmured to herself, slowing to a stop. Her vision blurred with tears, her voice low and strained. “Not after I’ve hurt him so much…” She reached into her pocket, oblivious to the rain falling around her, soaking her, and pulled out a small, roughly round ball of ice. In its depths burned a very real fire, Vexel’s fire, a piece she could keep all to herself.
Does anybody really know
If it’s the end or the beginning?
If it’s the end or the beginning?
[shadow=navy,left,300]“But I’ll be okay…I’ll be your friend, you’ll never have to put me back together again. I’ll be okay. Just come home, Maxina…please.”[/shadow]
The voice begged again, stronger now. Maxina frowned, looking closer into the fireball, astonished. Was he…talking to her?
[shadow=maroon,left,300] “Vexel, I can’t…I hurt you so much…and Reno’s so mad at me…”[/shadow]
Reno’s face when she’d told him about Vexel’s breakdown flashed in her mind: annoyance, a slight sneer on his otherwise perfect lips, and a scoff as he turned and left her alone to deal with it herself.
[shadow=navy,left,300]“But we both need you, Max…he-he loves you, and I…”[/shadow] Vexel’s voice wavered. [shadow=navy,left,300]“I need you here. I need you to come back.”[/shadow]Maxina felt a throb of pain radiate through her being at his words. She felt her hand raising, the small pulse of power that it took to open the portal flowing from her fingertips. Staring into the black and violet swirls of the portal, she felt the pull to step forward, to let him draw her back home. He was her best friend, and her designated shoulder to cry on. But it wasn’t really acceptable to cry on the shoulder of the one you’re hurting, is it?
The quiet rush of one breath
Is all we’re waiting for
Is all we’re waiting for
[shadow=navy,left,300] “Please…”[/shadow]
Maxina decided she didn’t care if it was acceptable or not. His face swam in her mind’s eye, and she realized that she needed comfort, and that’s what his strong arms and warm smile had always offered her. She took a step forward into the portal, closing her eyes. It swept her back home, leeching away her body heat as she stepped out into her room.
She opened her eyes to see Vexel standing in front of her, silhouetted in the doorway. A breath of relief escaped him as he staggered forward, engulfing her in his arms, warming her immediately. She took a shaky breath, her face pressed against his chest, arms at her side.
“You’re…gonna get all wet.” She said lamely, trying to alleviate the tension obviously surrounding them.
“I don’t care.” He murmured, holding her tighter. “You’re home, and you’re safe. What’s a little water between friends?” He peeked at her, giving her a small false smile. A broken laugh escaped her lips, turning to a sob before she could put a halt to the sound.
Sometimes the one we’re taking
Changes every one before
Changes every one before
Vexel’s fragile façade crumpled, his arms tightening around her and his head falling to her shoulder. “Please don’t cry, Maxina…please, I can’t take that...” He whispered. “Be mad at me, yell at me, but please don’t cry.”
“I’m so sorry.” Maxina felt her arms lift to wrap tightly around him, clinging to him like an anchor. “If anyone has a right to be mad, it’s you…I hurt you so badly, Vexel, I’m sorry…”
Maxina’s words were bought to a halt with a pair of warm lips as Vexel effectively silenced her.
It’s everything you wanted, it’s everything you don’t
Its one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
Its one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
His lips were soft and yielding and warm and firm and tender and comforting and everything she had ever needed all at the same time. The world narrowed to him and her; his arms around her and her hands on his shoulders and his eyes sliding closed and the slight bump of noses that comes with every first kiss. Her eyes closed and her tears fell, leaving wet trails on her cheeks as he pulled her closer.
She didn’t think of Reno, or how upset he’d be, or how mad he currently was, or how much this simple act would change things. The only thing she thought of was the soft, insistent press of Vexel’s lips and his warm arms around her and the sparks running the length of her spine. It was the most peaceful and perfect moment of her non-life, and it was over all too soon.
He pulled away first, looking at her with a longing sadness in his two-toned eyes. “We’re even.” He whispered quietly, not moving to let her go. She looked up at him, stunned speechless by his actions, but not willing to move just yet.
Some prayers find an answer, and some prayers never know
We’re holding on and letting go.
We’re holding on and letting go.
Maxina couldn’t think, and still couldn’t speak. Silently, she began shaking her head, opening her mouth silently. When no words readily came, she bit her lip, shaking her head still. Finally, she forced the words to come, and the moment they left her, she knew they were true.
“I love you, Vexel…and I’m so sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.”
Speaking the words that finally made the guilt and pain fade, Maxina leaned up and pressed her lips to his again, losing herself to a new beginning. And when the door opened to reveal a very irate redhead with sharp words on his tongue, Maxina turned to face him with Vexel’s hand firmly entwined with her own.
