[Closed] Bittersweet Memories

[abileunaspada]

Who: Adela Milani (abileunaspada) & Sephiroth (silverterror)
When: BGS 9, Winter (December)
What: One day, Adela simply doesn't come back from academy. At least, not of her own volition.

This was the worst day ever. She never wanted to go back.

The girl was cold, hiding in the bared tree in the misty forest she had found. She kept training with Sephiroth, but as the kids got older their teasing got worse. The sparring matches were getting more brutal and the kids were cheating, the teachers weren't defending her either. Everyone said she'd get killed. Everyone said she'd never be like him.

The six year old was still sniffling a bit then, allowing herself to cry as she curled her beaten and bruised form on the branch she was sitting on. She'd failed to be any good at it, at fighting like that. Would she really never be any good at being a ninja?

She'd probably disappoint Sephiroth like this... No. She just wouldn't go home...

Comments

[silverterror]

"They're idiots as well." That seemed the simplest point to address at least.

[abileunaspada]

She glanced away, unsure of what else she could do or say. What did Sephiroth think? That was what was important, but... At the moment, she didn't have the courage to ask.

[silverterror]

"Are you through with the growing up a man talk now?"

[abileunaspada]

"I didn't say that," She sniffled, shaking her head as she just... Moped. She was still crying a bit, her tears welling freely around her eyes. She still felt thoroughly miserable, not knowing completely what Sephiroth thought of her. Did he really hate her...?

[silverterror]

"That would be part of growing up to be like me Adela, a rather large portion of it in fact." He frowned at her.

[abileunaspada]

"... Does it matter if I can't be a boy? I can't be a good ninja if I'm a girl?"

[silverterror]

"What does being a ninja have to do with being like me?"

[abileunaspada]

"Because... You're an awesome ninja... The very best..." She sniffed again, her head hanging. Did Seph really think she couldn't do it at all...?

[silverterror]

"So you believe that's all there is to me then?" It was said with a small frown.

[abileunaspada]

"No..." It was a murmur, but even so Adela just seemed more miserable with each passing second, "I just... I just want to be great like you, but..."

All she was hearing was that she couldn't. Her tears began to leak and fall once more, and even in the grip he had on her she began to shake again.

[silverterror]

"I am no one great." It was a simple statement, and he frowned at her. "So your aspirations are in error."

[abileunaspada]

"Yes you are! Uncle told me so! And everyone in the clan respects you!" She shook her head wildly, swaying in his grip as she continued her vehement denial of his statement.

[silverterror]

"When I was your age the clan only had just bothered to decide they wanted me, so their opinions aren't something I hold in any kind of esteem."

[abileunaspada]

"But they still like you!" Adela didn't stop squirming, returning to sobbing and rubbing at her eyes while she tried to get out of the grip he still had on her.

[silverterror]

"You're mistaken." He frowned at her fussing and reached with his other hand to change his grip so maybe she'd stop it.

[abileunaspada]

"They're always talking about how great you are, and that I'm never gonna be able to catch up, and that I'm just a nuisance to the clan, and that..." She couldn't find any more words, instead just crying as she kicked her feet in the air in an even more vigorous attempt to be put down.

[silverterror]

"Proof they're a group of complete idiots, obviously." He held her further away from himself so she didn't kick him.

[abileunaspada]

"No one thinks I can do it! No one thinks I can become a great ninja like you! Mom 'n Dad don't want me to do it, the elders don't think I can, the other kids say I'm stupid, you... You don't even think I can..." It was getting harder and harder for the child to breathe. She was hiccuping a little, finally having stopped her kicking to just try and scrub her eyes raw while she kept crying.

"I-I always try really really hard! I always keep going until I can't anymore, I always study and train and keep trying to do it right but no one... No one cares! And I keep trying and sometimes I can't and then they laugh and...!"

[silverterror]

He frowned at her, reeling her in so they were almost touching noses. His tone was dangerous, patience at an end. "I've been very tolerant, and I do not know why you're fussing the opinions of others, but I didn't say anything of the kind, so don't put words in my mouth, understood?"

[abileunaspada]

"Then do you or not? Do you think I can do it!?" Adela's patience had already run long dry, but it was a combination of a long day and the emotional immaturity causing it in her case. Her eyes were big, watering as she waited expectantly for an answer. She needed an answer. She needed to know that he really believed she could do it.

If he said no...

[silverterror]

"What I think doesn't matter you twit. I have no opinion at all aside from thinking you carrying on like this is hardly going to get you what you want."

[abileunaspada]

"It matters to me..."

She hiccuped quietly from there, her head hanging as she tried to keep wiping at her eyes, by then thoroughly miserable both because of what already happened and because of how Sephiroth was speaking to her. Did he hate her now...? "Why does no one think I can...?"

[silverterror]

"Stop it. Stop it now." He gave her a shake, then brought her back in, practically growling at her. "No one else matters. No one. If you look to them for approval you will be stifled. Do you understand me?"

[abileunaspada]

Again she shook her head, making discomforted noises with the shaking as she looked at him again. Why didn't he understand? He really hated her, didn't he? "You matter, a lot... You matter."

[silverterror]

"There is no reason for me to matter." He made a noise of aggravation. "There is no reason for anyone to matter. The only one who should matter in how you do is you."