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 Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:51 pm
"That's good," Faust said. "That's what's important, that he's better." he turned back towards the window.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:20 am
"I'd say I'd go talk to him, but everytime I do that, it seems like I just make things worse..."Netsubo murmured.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:32 am
"You're a good mom, but if I were Yuki right now... I think I'd want space," Faust said. He still would not look at Netsubo.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:50 am
"I don't fee like a good mom..."She muttered. She sighed and started for the door,"There's soup downstairs if you're hungry..."She opened the door to leave.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:58 am
"You know I never am..." Faust sighed. "But I appreciate the offer."
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:16 pm
"He was only mad because I said that I loved you no matter what....and didn't care wether you loved me..."She said quietly before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:37 pm
Faust stiffened as the door closed. She had just set down terms for unconditional love... he had loved Eliza like like, completely unconditionally. His mind snapped back to a particular occasion.
"I think I know you," Eliza said, squinting her eyes at the younger boy. His eyes were cruelly positioned by nature at about her chest level, and he kept nervously reaching up to adjust his bright yellow scarf or his huge, thick glasses. "Are you Dr. Faust's son?"
Faust blushed bright crimson. "Y-yes," he stammered. "I wanted to tell you something..." he'd known her for years, even though she was unaware of most of it. Eliza had been a patient of her fathers since he was two and she was five. Even then, he'd known that he was destined to marry her... he'd been frustrated by his chubby, uncoordinated hands and his imprecise speech. His mind had been clear even then, perfect, clean-cut and pristine as a jeweler's prize diamond, but he hadn't been able to put his feelings into words. Now... he was twelve, and she was fifteen, and he could begin to articulate what he felt for her. They were both in their freshman year in high school, despite the age difference, and she was blossoming into a young woman while he was an accelerated learner who was small for his age. Everyone still treated him like a child, even though he knew he had been an adult for years. Only his body was still young. "I am Dr. Faust's son... and I'm in your grade at school."
"Oh, yes. You won the science fair, with the little... what were they called?"
"Platyhelminthes," Faust said eagerly. "Little planarians. I worked hard on that," he added modestly.
"Wow, and you're only... what, ten?"
"Twelve," Faust said, blushing even more. He wanted so much for her to see him as a provider, a protector... and she'd thought he was young enough to need a babysitter. "I wanted to tell you that..."
"Yes?" Eliza asked.
"I love you. I've always loved you. And I know that we're destined to be married someday."
Eliza blinked in disbelief, then broke into peals of laughter. She caught her breath, trying to be kind. "Oh, Hans, hon, I'm sorry! But you're still very young... and I'm probably nearing the end of my life. I'll never get married, but that's very sweet."
"You're not taking me seriously!" Faust cried in dismay. He wrenched off his glasses, looking her in the eyes, but her face was a painful blur without them. "Not only are you going to get better, but you're going to get married and have a wonderful life! I just want to be the guy you marry!"
"And, why do you think that we're destined to be married?" Eliza asked patiently, gently humoring the little boy who had a crush on her.
"Because... because I've always known," Faust said. "I'd treat you well. I'd love you, always, no matter what. I'll even find a way to cure your disease, I promise, whether you want to marry me or not!"
Eliza's eyes filled with tears. "Hans, that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me... but you shouldn't make promises you can't keep. It's not fair, to you or me. You're smart, but no one's that smart."
"No, I will, just trust me. I'll start today... my dad will tell me the fine points, and I'll think them through until I know exactly what needs to be done!"
"Hans.... you don't even know me, not really," Eliza said softly. "Why do you care about me so much?"
"Because I have the rest of my life to find out," Faust said, replacing his glasses and looking up at her beautiful face. "Give me a few years. I swear that you'll get better, even if I have to stay up every night studying to get you there."
Eliza hugged him the way a girl would hug her little brother. "That's very sweet, Hans," she said again, before turning and walking away.
Unconditional love... he'd loved Eliza that way, even though she'd never truly felt that way about him. And now, the situation was reversed. He was loved... but he'd already loved someone else in his life, in a way that no one could ever love again.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:40 pm
((ohhh!!! crying ))
Netsubo sighed and went back downstairs. She didn't know what to do now; she felt like such an idiot for saying that to Faust. She sat down in the window sill and stared out at the city.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:06 pm
Faust's eyes stung, and there was an unexpected dampness on his cheeks. He stubbornly wiped away the tears. What was done was done... of course....
Faust hit the ground, falling on his ribs and screaming in pain. Same hit hard... always had... and this time, it was for keeps.
"Stop it!" Eliza begged, sobbing. "Stop it, he can't beat you, Same..."
Faust dragged himself off the ground, humiliated, dirty, and feeling the dull throb of just-broken bones. He'd avoided punching Same at all costs, to save his long, fragile fingers for the delicate work of surgery. He'd taken blows to the stomach, the chest, even to the head, before putting his hands in harm's way. He brushed the dirt of the sleeve of his torn jacket, shaking his head once briskly, relieved that he wasn't seeing double anymore. He was promptly knocked back to the ground. How had he gotten into this fight in the first place?
Eliza was dating Same. Had been for almost a year and a half. A week ago, he'd proposed. Faust had been devastated, of course, but in his heart he understood. Same was broad and strong, while he was willowy and... as much as he hated to admit it... still three years younger than Eliza. She had graduated and become a nurse. He was finishing his doctorate alongside Same... who was seven years his senior. Faust, tearing through the coursework and finishing school in record time, had just turned 21. He hadn't questioned Eliza's acceptance of Same's proposal until just now. When he'd seen that brute of a man hit Eliza across the face, he'd seen red. Eliza had grasped his arm before he'd rushed headlong into the showdown, pleading, "Please... don't hurt him..."
Same knocked him to the ground again, laughing. "You're like a grub, Faust. Just lying in the dirt, not fighting back. I could crush you under my foot right now."
"Stop it!" Eliza shouted again.
"Why don't you fight back, coward?" Same asked, kicking Faust in his broken ribs.
When he could breathe again, Faust gasped, "I promised I wouldn't." Same laughed and dragged him to his feet, just to knock him to the ground again. Smirking he pulled out a knife.
Eliza rushed forward, holding out the engagement ring. Her violet eyes blazed with fury and hatred. "Here. Same, I'll never marry you!"
Same gaped at her. "Are you serious? I'm going to lose you to that?" Faust looked up, grinning through bloodstained teeth, just in time to get kicked in them again.
That was when the Dean had shown up and expelled Same. But Faust didn't notice, at the time. He'd only seen Eliza's smiling face, bringing his perfect, intact hand that hadn't thrown a single punch to her face to wipe away her own tears. "I believe you now. You do love me. If you propose to me, Johann... I'll say yes."
He passed out just then, maybe from head trauma, maybe from sheer happiness. But Eliza waited patiently at his bedside for him to wake up, and the second he did, he proposed. And she said yes.
She'd said yes. Just like he had, to Netsubo. He stood, straightening his jacket. He had a responsibility now. Just as Eliza had been good to him... he needed to honor Netsubo's dedication and sacrifices for his sake.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:40 pm
It had started to rain outside. The drops had smudged the glass, making it even harder to see.Netsubo tried to wipe away some of the grime to try to keep a lookout on the street.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:06 pm
Faust touched her shoulder. "Netsubo?" he asked, his face pale in the dim light. "Hey..."
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:19 am
Netsubo looked up at him,"Hey. Is something wrong?"She asked, concern in her voice.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:54 am
"No... nothing's wrong," Faust said, tilting her chin up with his index finger and thumb. Bending slightly, he kissed her on the mouth, slowly, but in the softest and most discreet way imaginable.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:07 am
Netsubo sat ridgid in shock for a moment, then softly kissed him back. Her face was bright red, but she didn't seem to notice.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:26 pm
Faust held her close. "I wanted to invite you to spend the night in my room tonight... if you'd like to."
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