Return to Salvation [Closed]

[Aislinn]

As much as she loathed to do so, she continued to watch.

Silent was Aislinn, and no one ever suspected the pretty young girl in white. With her large, innocent blue eyes, and the sweetest of smiles she always wore. Such a perfect looking doll, and one deserving of everything in the world. All admirers she had ever met had only gained silence from her, as Aislinn no longer gave much thought to others. Survival was what counted at the moment, and so she continued to gaze closely at the small caravan coming through. While not overly lavish, she knew that the real riches were hidden within those satchels the Chocobos wore. Aislinn wondered briefly where they were headed, as most Spirans took Hovers across the land now. Machina had grown with popularity, and seeing such a method of travel like this was a rarity in Spira.

Perched upon a boulder, she sat there in full view. Her drawing pad rested upon her lap, and slender hands were stained with the colors of pastels. A hazy drawing of the surrounding area could be seen, but it was merely a ploy to lure these travelers into thinking the pretty blond girl was just another wanderer. An artist out to capture the world. Aislinn bit her bottom lip for a moment, not liking what she was about to do at all, but it was alright. She only took what she needed, and never to hurt anyone. Just to keep going on with her own life, so she could help others. Slender fingers dug into the paper of her drawing pad briefly, before she slowly relaxed her grip. A small sigh escaped her lips, but only the sound of her exhale could be heard. Never her voice.

Beginning to place her pastels and drawing pad within her bag, a smile upon her lips. Aislinn slowly stood, and carefully climbed down from her previous perch. With a practiced ease, she purposely stumbled downward, eyes widened with fright, and her lips parted in a silent gasp. As expected one of the more lavishly dressed men rushed forward, and steadied her easily. Aislinn lifted her head, and a grateful smile came upon her lips. "Are you injured, miss?" Oh, how she did not wish to answer. Merely shaking her head, she hoped that would suffice. Her azure eyes flickered to the bag tied to his belt, and she inhaled deeply. Lurching forward, the young girl grasped the bag, and she was suddenly running.

Angry shouts were heard behind her, but she had been a Thief for years. Her agility was more than these men, and she kept looking forward, watching for any crevice she could hide into. Chest rising and falling, Aislinn darted to the side, and she hid herself behind a tall rock. Heart racing, she pressed herself closely against the rock, closing her eyes tightly. The bag was clutched sharply within both of her hands, knuckle beginning to turn white at the grip. Aislinn heard the racing footsteps pass her, and she nearly sighed in relief. Was she safe? Slowly, the young blond opened her eyes, and she peered about the side of the lock to make sure.

[Zidane Tribal]

Zidane had his prey in sight. A small caravan, but it would have enough to spare to get him a nice meal that night. God was he hungry. A guy could only survive off of stolen loaves and fruit for so long before needing proper nourishment, such as a slow roasted ham, or fried fish. Maybe with a side of twice-baked potatoes, or some simple steamed vegetables. Truth be told this was all fantasizing to pass the time as the caravan approached. It was a narrow portion of the road surrounded on both sides by large rocks with lots of crevices. A good thief could simply dart out, grab his share and disappear into the other side before the people know what hit him.

But the entire thing was disturbed by a young girl. Zidane watched as the leader of the caravan addressed the young girl and then… she… took off. She had his coin purse, Zidane’s own target! But there was something familiar about the girl, something Zidane recognized. It was too far away to tell. Where had she come from? He should’ve noticed her before now, competition was rare and far in between, how they could’ve picked the same target so close together was strange. Every thief had a signature style, the fact that she had picked such a similar location and target said something about her and Zidane. Was she… no, she couldn’t be.

Zidane was up and moving before the caravan could get itself gathered. A few of the men started after the young girl, but Zidane was faster than them too. He quickly made up the distance between himself and the caravan running along the side of the road, using cover. He saw the girl dart behind a large rock up ahead, but he also saw one of the men approaching her location. Zidane charged forward, hit the rock at a run and leapt into the air straight at the man. The rock gave him the altitude he needed and he tackled the man, driving him to the ground and quickly scrambling to his feet, spotting the girl on the other side of the rock.

With a flick of his tail he was off again. This time he charged forward toward the girl, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her off into the rocks. Honor among thieves. He was nearby and she was in danger, he needed to help her. He pulled her off the road, into a thick pile of rocks that formed almost caverns where they’d be much safer than behind a roadside rock. Once the shouting of the men was in the distance Zidane stopped to catch his breath, doubling over and holding his knees as he breathed deep, looking at the ground. ”That was a close call, wasn’t it,” he said with a grin and another flick of his tail.

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[Aislinn]

Her heart was racing so quickly.

Aislinn was sure she had not picked the best place to hide, but it had been within reach, and those men had been chasing after her. Should she have just left well alone, and contented herself without a meal for the night? No, she had to survive as well, and that caravan would not suffer from that much gil taken. Inhaling deeply, Aislinn thought she heard a small commotion taking place not too far away from her. Startled, the young girl was ready to take off and make a run for it. If she was caught, she would surely be punished in some way! Shuddering at the thought, Aislinn raised her hand and looked about herself quickly. Where to go, where to go?

She did not have much of a choice, though.

Aislinn was suddenly grasped by her arm roughly, and she yelped in surprise. Stumbling after who had pulled her, her blond locks kept falling into her eyes. Her heart was racing, though, because she suddenly saw a tail waving wildly about the male that had grabbed her. Could it be? How had she run into him now of all time? Aislinn cut off her thoughts, though, and merely followed after Zidane in a stupor. Hidden within this alcove of stone, she stood there gasping for her breath. The gil pouch was still clutched tightly within her hand, and she could only stare at Zidane with wonder and wariness.

Was this real?

Aislinn trembled, his voice suddenly heard, and her azure eyes widened. The last time she had heard his name was the tragic night. Calling her name as she had been pulled away into the crowd. Taking a step forward, her lips parted and closed several time. Aislinn had vowed never to speak to a single soul again, but this was different. This was her brother, someone she had not seen in over two years, and the only one she had found after Tantalus had been destroyed by Sin. Tears burned at the corner of her eyes, and slowly trailed down her pale cheeks. It really was him! From his long hair, right to the tip of his tail! No other person in the world had a tail like that, and Aislinn just knew.

"Zi..dane.." she spoke softly. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and it was the first word she had said in years. Before she really thought of it, Aislinn launched herself at the older boy, tackling him to the ground. Pulling herself to him closely, the young girl could not help but begin to sob. Happiness, sorrow, elation all filled her being, and she could hardly contain those emotions any longer.

[Zidane Tribal]

Before he could full catch his breath he was on the ground. He had been so caught up in getting away from those men he’d forgotten about his suspicions. However the force of that tackle was so familiar, the slight frame of the pale, porcelain girl so very familiar against him. Not out of intimacy, no, this was more… familial. Zidane, however, was caught off guard by the tackle and tumbled to the ground, feeling her light weight on top of him. His tail flicked about agitatedly, pinned to the ground by their two frames, but he didn’t care.

He had found her.

Zidane couldn’t believe it. His mind flashed back to that dreadful event that haunted his past and often kept him away during the night. The image of the theatre ship gone completely vertical because of Sin, his friends, his family, being thrown from the deck. He’d been relieved when he found her on the shore, a bit shaken but not overly harmed. He’d helped her, and they were on their way to safety, but so were the rest of people in the crowd, and they were two insignificant kids. With no thought whatsoever the current of the crowd carried them each away in separate directions.

And Zidane had never seen his sister again.

Until this chance meeting in the rocks. Zidane shook his head, shaking off the memory and looking straight at Aislinn. His eyes glistened as tears brimmed them, but he blinked them back. He was her older brother, figuratively speaking, it wasn’t brotherly to cry. He was the strong one, though this was defeated by the tears that did indeed reshow in his eyes and drip down his cheek. Tears of joy and sorrow. Joy for their chance meeting, sorrow for the memory of their separation; the latter of the two types much less obvious.

Namely because of the wide grin across Zidane’s face.

”Ai,” he murmured, barely able to choke up the words. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. He hugged her real close and rested his head against the top of hers. He didn’t want to let go, not this time. He was terrified if he did she would drift away, would get lost again. ”Aislinn,” he said under his breath, trying to reassure himself that this was in fact not a dream, that it was real and he was holding quite tightly onto his long lost sister.

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[Aislinn]

Aislinn was so caught up in this happy moment.

Her lips were pulled into a smile, and her heart was racing so very quickly. Azure orbs closed, and she merely buried her head into his chest, those sobs still wracking through her petite frame. There was hardly a reason to cry in the way she was, but Aislinn was so very happy! There was so much she wanted to say Zidane, but she could not form the words. It had been so hard just to say his name, but she would break her promise for him. No one else would hear her speak but him. Perhaps in not many words, but all the same. A content sigh escaped her lips, interrupted by another quiet sob. It was so hard not to cry.

Raising her head, she glanced up at him with a teary smile. He looked the same as he had over two years ago, though obviously more matured. How Aislinn wished she could say the same. At fifteen, she was still so petite and fragile-looking. Her head tilted to the side, and she saw the tears within his own eyes, though he tried to hold them back. A weak giggle escaped her at the sight, though her voice was still hoarse and barely above a breathless whisper. Aislinn noticed that it hurt to talk somewhat, but she would be alright. Seeing the grin spread across his laps, she relaxed more comfortably on top of him.

Aislinn felt more tears fall down her cheeks, and she felt his arms slide about her. He whispered her old nickname, and she smiled once more. The sobs slowly began to subside, and her slender frame began to still. His head rested atop of hers, and Aislinn felt so very content. Closing her sky blue eyes, she let out a small exhale of breath. "This..is..real..." she managed to murmur. Her voice still barely above a whisper, but she would try.

[Zidane Tribal]

Once more Zidane tried to choke back the tears. He’d honestly thought Ai had been lost long ago, fallen victim to a fiend or something, much like Blank. To encounter her so randomly was just… fates will. There was nothing that could bring about such a chance encounter but destiny and Zidane at that moment was thanking whatever forces were behind it with all his heart. He held Aislinn close, not wanting to ever let her go, though he slowly began to accept the fact that they would have to let go of one another eventually.

It wasn’t eventually yet.

He hugged her tight and struggled against the tears. Her words were so strained, but it was her. He knew her voice, her sweet voice like honey in the air. ”It is real,” he said, confirming her statement and his own beliefs. It was so hard to believe that things worked out like this, that they would come across each other in the middle of nowhere stealing from the same person. It was just such an intense, overwhelming feeling. But that feeling was secondary to the relief he felt that she was okay. Not only was she okay, but she was alive and healthy!

”I thought you were dead,” he said, almost struggling with the last word. She wasn’t dead, he kept having to reassure himself of that. Spending two years believing something made it hard to shrug the thought after one chance encounter. But this wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t a fantasy, it was reality. He sighed contently. ”But you’re not… what happened to you? Where have you been all this time?” he asked, stopping himself before bombarding her with questions. It was obviously overwhelming for her, as she’d hardly said a word since they’d stopped running. Better take things slow; he didn’t intend on losing her again.

(Bleh, sorry, short. >.<)

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[Aislinn]

A happy sigh escaped her lips.

Maybe her life had finally taken a turn for the best? Yes, it certainly seemed so, and Aislinn could not be any more happy than she was now. So warm and comforted she was in Zidane's embrace, and she merely pulled herself closer to him. She never wanted to let go, fearing that if she did, she may lose him once again. Those memories still haunted her in sleep, and Aislinn nearly shuddered at the thought. She did wonder if anyone else had survived the attack, though, and she hoped with all of her being that her other family members had made it through. Aislinn merely clung tighter to Zidane, appearing so fragile and small in that moment.

Aislinn lifted her head, and she peered up at Zidane with a small smile. She had thought he was dead as well, and had been so surprised to see him there before her. After over two years, she had managed to find him by complete accident. It had felt like she had been dead, though. The last years had been a blur to Aislinn, who had floated through life like a ghost. Seldom a smile appeared on her lips, and she had not said one word until now. Surviving on nothing but the skills Baku had taught her, and selling her own drawings for some extra gil. Simple things to get what she needed, but Aislinn missed having one home, and wandering all over Spira by herself. It had hurt so very much.

Biting her bottom lip for a moment, Aislinn thought of some answer she could give. How could she explain that she had not spoken to anyone? That she had been so alone. "I..became mute. It..is so...hard...to talk," she managed to whisper. The words still hurt to utter, and she inhaled uneasily. Aislinn was not quite ready to speak as of yet, even to Zidane. No other person would she talk to but him, and anyone else that had been close to her. The young girl looked to Zidane with tears filling her azure eyes, and she buried her head into his shoulder, soft sobs shaking her slender frame once more. So very fragile and shaken she was, but Aislinn could only cry for all the years lost, and her own inability to speak.

[Zidane Tribal]

Zidane held her close, considering her scant few words. Aislinn was essentially his sister, and the fact that they had been separated by Sin had perhaps been the biggest ache whenever he remembered that terrifying night long ago. Despite that being the worst part, whenever he thought back to it he still pictured the mighty image of the theatre ship set ablaze by something, tipped vertically in the air as it groaned and creaked, ready to come down on everybody below it. At that instant he had feared more for Aislinn than himself, knowing the ship would easily crush her frail frame as violently as it had crushed the houses it landed on.

But the wounds could start healing now. The worst part of that night was fixed, and he could begin to mend. The mental scars would forever be there, but he could move on now, he didn’t need to linger on that dreadful night. Well, he still did. Aislinn was only one of many he’d thought lost. Baku, Blank, the entire crew had gone missing. Zidane had thought himself the sole survivor of the ordeal, and only that by a miracle. Zidane’s tail flicked back and forth slowly, mournfully, as he was lost in the thoughts.

But it was better. Right now it was all better. He could mourn his lost family later, as it was coming back together now and it was not the time to linger. No, he had Aislinn in his arms sobbing and it wasn’t the time to linger on such events. Oddly enough the young thief had always run by the philosophy of not lingering on the past, yet night after night that image of the ship had haunted his dreams and thoughts. He tried to cast it away, not to linger, but it always came back. Maybe with Aislinn near he’d finally get some peace.

”It’s okay, there’s no need for words,” Zidane said, essentially the first thing that came to his mind, surprising himself with the depth of the comment. ”We’re together again, that’s what matters, and I’m not going to lose you again,” he said, choking back the latter part of the sentence. It was better, the wounds were healing, he wasn’t going to lose her again.

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[Aislinn]

Aislinn managed to quiet herself.

There was no need to cry anymore, and the young girl just wanted to be happy again. It would take a long while for her own mental wounds to heal, but she could start now. Her vision was still blurred by her own tears, and she felt a little embarrassed for crying all over Zidane's shoulder. Leaning back just a little, Aislinn could see that her tears had soaked the fabric of his shirt, and her cheeks darkened just a little. She was still so happy, because she had found Zidane, and here he was right beneath her. She had no wish to think about that haunting night now, not when she had found someone important to her.

Aislinn merely tightened her hold about Zidane, burying her head back into his shoulder. How small and fragile she looked, but the tears had stopped, and her slender form was still. No need for words. Relief washed over her at that statement. Aislinn wanted to talk, to tell him everything! It was just so hard to, though, and it would take her time. His words sounded pained, and it hurt her that Zidane was hurting. What had happened to them had been tragic, and it had happened to so many people because of Sin. Azure orbs peered up at him through her lashes, and her lips curled into a gentle smile.

"You won't lose me," Aislinn replied gently. Her voice was stronger, and she did not pause between words. It still hurt, but she was glad she had said something. Everything was alright now, and a content sigh escaped her lips. No more need for tears, or for those nightmares. Time could heal all wounds, and perhaps others from Tantalus had survived. Aislinn would keep believing that, but for now she was just happy to be here with Zidane.