[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

[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."

[abileunaspada]

"I-It matters 'cause I care... I care about what you think," There was no stopping that sniffling, and that was probably when she did something he wasn't ready for. She hugged him, her arms wrapping comfortably around her neck as she buried her face against his shoulder. She couldn't stop crying, feeling more and more pathetic by the second.

"You don't hate me, do you Sephiroth...?"

[silverterror]

He grimaced at the feel of her putting her horribly wet and snotty face on him, just sort of awkwardly standing there not hugging her back as he held onto her where he had been the whole time. "I'm not prone to hating people on an individual basis."

[abileunaspada]

Adela didn't answer then, shaking as she tried and tried to get her crying under control. Which... Was really difficult, considering she was six. Still she didn't let go, just holding on and trying to calm down.

[silverterror]

He finally brought his other hand to press against her back, releasing her with his other hand to let it dangle at his side with a sigh.

[abileunaspada]

Her breath caught, and she was tense for a second before relaxing and holding onto him more comfortably. What Sephiroth might find surprising was that the soft contact seemed to help -- her sobbing began to quiet down and she seemdd to calm over time.

[silverterror]

He was stony faced, just... waiting for her to release him. His hold wasn't doing much to hold her up, honestly, her clinging was doing that, so all he was doing was waiting her out.

[abileunaspada]

It was a slow process, but she did eventually let go and lower herself to her feet, wiping at her eyes one last time. She still seemed pretty upset, but at least she wasn't wailing like she had been previously.

"... M'sorry..."

[silverterror]

He huffed a breath, staring down at her with a rather put upon face. "Learn to be calmer."

[abileunaspada]

After a moment she just nodded, holding her arms close to her body as she mumbled, "I'll try..."

[silverterror]

He huffed a breath. "You'll learn how to use the emotions as weapons. Eventually."

[abileunaspada]

Again she nodded, though she didn't say anything else or move. She was really cold by then... Beat up, cold, and having just been crying. It probably wouldn't be good for her to have her out there much longer, but at the moment she didn't care.

"... M'sorry... You got angry..."