cantante | ♫ inbox: melodies of life.

[ For Ace, it was yet another morning at the hospital wing. He never stayed too long, envisioning the disappointment he would bring her by staying listless in the face of the upcoming trials. A part of him, too, realised that there was nothing to achieve by waiting in a place where time hardly ever moved, but he wanted to keep her company all the same, if only for a short while.

And not just her, given how many of their companions had been claimed by the crystal sleep. People who'd once lived alongside him were long gone, each week shrinking their numbers and damaging the morale. Zelda's death in particular was for many was difficult to address - unlike others, she hadn't been given the hope of return. Sooner or later, any of them could be sharing the same fate, and if a stasis ensured a Hero's safety, maybe he was being selfish by wishing for his friends to awaken.

For better or worse, he was left to his own thoughts without any other visitors in sight. Kneeling by Tear's hospital bed, Ace rested his palm against hers encased in crystal, cold and completely unresponsive. Though it chilled his skin like ice, there was something his partner had once said - something which had stuck in his mind despite being merely a passing comment. Be it thanks to the blood pulsing through his veins, or whatever force responsible, she'd found his hands to be somewhat warmer than she'd expected. Maybe not enough to melt the crystal layer separating them, but he nonetheless wished to try if it could reach her. ]

[ At first she wasn't even aware of the darkness that surrounded her, so much like the split moment between sleep and awake. But the moment was lasting too long, and the void threatened to pull her back to where she had tried so hard to escape. Somewhere so cold, dark silent... Until the gentle pressure against her hand tugged slivers of awareness back to the forefront of her mind.

The girl had no choice but to focus on that warmth, her only anchor to feeling. She knew this warmth, and she knew it well—as her mind struggled to make it past the haze and confusion, to break past that last darkness, her physical being acted of its own accord to curl her fingers around the hand touching hers.

Gently, then increasing in strength, Tear's first soft gasp for air pushed her to see light, and each blink afterward only brought the silhouette into sharper focus until she could more clearly see her partner. ]

Ace...?

[ He hadn't been able to register when exactly his body had rebelled against him and his head fell onto the mattress, but it must have happened at some point for him not to notice the alarming signs right away. In all honesty, he felt no less confused than she was when the gentle tugging turned out to be something more than a figment of his imagination, and her voice rang out to break the silence.

Stunned, he pushed himself up and the next thing he knew, he was hovering over her like a shield, waiting eagerly for a response of any kind. He'd been unable to get hold of information regarding the reason for her disappearance, so if she'd been by any chance injured, the pain could be returning any second. Either way, he felt fortunate to be by her side, where he belonged, especially now. ]

... I'm here. [ The hand previously holding hers slipped out of her grasp to press lightly against her shoulder, holding the girl down, just in case. Like her fingers, it felt so reassuringly warm to the touch. ] Don't make any sudden movements while your body continues to adjust. Give it a few seconds.

[ His point made, he released her from that brief captivity, smiling. For the first time in weeks. ]

Breathe.

[ There was no pain to speak of, at least not any that she could sense just yet, and were the melodist any more lucid she might have been startled by Ace's quick approach. Instead she blinked at him with vague confusion, wanting so much to reach out and take his hand back into hers again, to have that reassurance that they were in fact together.

Nevertheless she held herself back, following his instruction to breathe to the point that her eyes slid closed again, to better focus as she fell back into the even rhythm.

Except she couldn't keep them that way for more than a few moments, opening them so she could see that smile she loved so much and eventually granting him a weak one of her own. ]

You'll let me know... when I'm allowed to move...? [ Because she would very much like to pull him into her arms soon, slowly coming to understand the situation after sparing a second to glance at the distinctly cold walls. Her memories of the events before her sleep would take a little more time to recall. ]

[ A choked sound bordering on a laugh broke out of his throat. It was a ridiculous question, but in all fairness, he himself had started it, so he might as well play along. ]

... I'll think about it.

[ The relief that came from seeing her safe and sound washed over him in waves before his mind was able to catch up. It felt so incredibly surreal to be having this moment now, when he'd already resigned himself to what had seemed to be his reality. ]

You've been asleep for three weeks.

[ Whispering ever so softly, he decided to address the question that would inevitably fall from her lips. Still in the air was the matter of her sudden stasis, temporarily pushed aside while the melodist was still regaining her senses. Wanting to aid her in that process, he reached out to smooth some of the hair away from her forehead, but was unable to pause his ministrations once he began, ending up affectionately brushing his fingertips along the curve of her cheek. ]

[ The sound of his almost-laughter was as a balm for her waking state, giving her the push to make it past the last of the haze that came with waking up. Coupled with soothing touch, it was nearly successful in distracting her from the crucial piece of information he had shared.

Almost. ]

Three weeks...? [ While his touch may have succeeded in drawing out the soft blush dusting her cheeks, it wasn't enough to stop her eyes widening slightly in surprise. Without thinking she raised a hand to gently caress the one that had brushed over her skin, her expression becoming a little guilty despite not meaning to. No one had control over crystal stasis, and it would probably make him feel worse if she tried to apologise. ]

What happened—...? Are you all right?

[ As always, her first priority was his well-being. ]

[ Tear responded with a barrage of questions that each deserved a separate paragraph, so it only made sense to start out with what seemed the easiest. His free hand rose in the air in a gesture of a silent surrender before he dropped it. The old wounds had long healed up, leaving his skin clean save for occasional faded scars. ]

As you can see, I'm unhurt, so stop making that face. [ As much as he wanted to chide her for taking the blame for something she hadn't been responsible for, he couldn't bring himself to express it through his tone. Instead, it seemed more like a slightly defeated plea that he tried to fix with a weak smile, but even that faltered, eventually.

Ace sighed. Maybe he'd chosen a wrong angle to begin from altogether. ]

There are some things you must know, I'm just not sure if this is the right place for it.

[ She would stop making "that face," except there was more to be concerned about than just his physical well-being. But she had heard the plea in his voice and at least had that reassurance, thus the girl responded with a nod and quiet sigh of relief as she worked to get her expression back under control. ]

Not the right place... Then let's go home, Ace. [ It was her own turn to plead, with the way she looked at him and how her fingers entwined in his.

This area of the hospital had never been her favourite, and she knew now that if she took the time to glance around she would be met with some less than comforting sights. Fortunately, she had had the blessing of his face being the first she saw this time upon waking up. ]

[ He knew he couldn't take her patience for granted, which is why he set out to fulfil her request as soon as Tear was done speaking, helping her into a sitting position by giving her hand a gentle tug. ]

Everything is still where you left it. [ And he wouldn't have it any other way, if the warmth to his tone was any indication. No matter how long her absence were to last, he couldn't even imagine letting anyone else claim her place in the home they had made for themselves.

His fingers trailed shyly along the hem of her shirt for a couple of moments before resting against where her heart was beating, as if trying to map out its rhythm. ] ... It thrives in people's hearts, the Calamity. [ At that, he dropped his hand onto the bed and sighed. ] But worrying won't mend it, so I'll just have to keep a close eye on you. As close as you let me.

[ The girl began her response with a simple nod, still trying to recall the exact details of what was occurring before being pulled into sleep. So much had been happening that the process brought only more questions, but as Ace had said, this wasn't the place for it. Not only that, but the warmth of his tone left her speechless, completely uncertain of how to feel about it.

Except he didn't give her much time to think about it either, her attention immediately drawn elsewhere. Tear's breath had slowed until it came to a stop as his fingers traced along the cloth, even as her heartbeat drummed loudly in her ears. Only when he pulled away did she breathe again, cheeks flushed from what she perceived to be a rather intimate gesture.

Once again, his way with words had served to leave her momentarily speechless, yet a small smile eventually came when she leaned against him, just as it always did. ]

Idiot... isn't that what we already promised to do? I want you here.

[ After all, they were partners. ]

[ And she was the only one who could so easily get away with calling him names, earning a small huff of feigned irritation that had little to do with how he really felt. Finding relief in the warmth of her body pressed against his, he soon began to regret his decision to refrain from talking things through, even though it was for the better. This kind of closeness that he'd so missed made it nearly impossible to keep any of his secrets from spilling out. ]

Such a sharp tongue. [ Closing his eyes, he punctuated his response with a kiss to the girl's forehead. ] But you're okay. I'm so relieved….

[ When his arms finally found their way around her back, he was no longer holding himself back from making it known how much he had longed to hold her once more. It was his manner of saying thanks; one he knew she would understand without a need for an explanation. ]

Can you walk, or should I carry you?

[ Whispering teasingly against her hair, he made no effort to move, slightly contrary to his own offer. ]

[ Likewise, Tear took the time to wrap her arms around Ace in turn, not only to hold him closer but to communicate that she had understood his message, and neither was she in a hurry to pull away. Though she may have been crystallised, it felt as if it had been a long time since they where both together like this.

Perhaps it had been, with the investigation of all that was happening keeping him tied to the station for long hours, for days. And with the state she had found him in, it made her wonder—just when was the last time he had been granted a proper night's rest?

With that in mind it shouldn't be too much of a surprise when she drew a hand back, placing a finger on his lips with a faintly tired smile. ] I think I'll be fine. Maybe I should be the one asking you that, you were sleeping, remember?

... Hey, don't be silly.

[ It came out muffled against her warning finger. It was very like her to draw the course of the conversation back to him without a warning, but he still wasn't sure how to respond properly. Even if there was no hiding the faint circles under his eyes, he wasn't going to let her notice too much, lest she'd only find more reasons to be concerned. ]

I was... saving energy, like I always do. [ Who would have thought that the reality would be more merciful than dreams. Standing up, he reached out his hands to hold hers, giving them a gentle tug. ] You should call for Sein instead of worrying. You know the rules of this place.

[ That, and without a doubt the Moogle would want to know she was awake and well. ]

Saving energy... [ Though she had spoken softly, her tone indicated that she was well aware there was more to it than that. But further discussion could wait, since he had brought up a valid point in summoning her companion. If she didn't do so soon, he might be more upset that she had delayed calling him a second time—and no one wanted to deal with the consequences of a vexed Moogle.

It took her a moment to steady herself, holding on to her partner's hands for unwavering strength as her body was still fatigued from being still for so long. Once she she was completely upright her focus was again on his face, quiet concern making itself known even though she held back the sigh that wanted to accompany it.

But she held herself back again, not yet reaching for the flute that would summon the puffball to her side. They would have privacy for a little bit longer, and so she took advantage of it by leaning up to press her lips against his cheek.

Satisfied with that for now, she finally felt around and brought the instrument to her lips. Wherever Sein was, she had no doubt he would appear all too quickly. ]

♫ inbox: melodies of life.

( the hospital | july 23rd )

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( the hospital | july 23rd ) the unintentional rhymes in this thread are killing me

( the hospital | july 23rd ) I only just noticed it oh my god

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