|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 2:45 pm
"From my experience, most people are only isolate if they make themselves that way or want it."
She didn't know exactly what Fritz had gone through to make him feel like he needed to go it alone, but she could distinctly remember how she'd handled her partner moving. She'd chosen poorly, chosen to isolate herself instead of embracing the other people in her life or even trying to welcome others into her life. It wasn't Lucien's fault, he did what was best for him and she understood. She'd run away to France for a bit, avoided powering up in the aftermath.
Those had been her decisions because she'd chosen to act cowardly instead of brave like she knew she was capable of.
Maybe Frtiz just needed to be reminded that part of being brave was being afraid and overcoming that.
"Did you give him a reason to leave?" She asked, chewing on the inside of her lip. She had only met Hitch, whom she employed to do the odd jobs as needed, and she didn't know Fritz's twin but her own brother was always there for her. Even when they were at their worst and fighting if she needed him then he'd be there and vice versa. Hell, he'd come and aided her when it came to moving an unconscious Fritz. "No - nevermind, it doesn't matter. What matters is that things are different okay? You and I are here and if all else fails, you've got me."
Though Fiona was convinced that anyone that had her likely had her allies too. She could be incredibly persuasive if she tried.
There was some hesitation as she stepped closer, hips knocking against his knees as she placed her hands on either side of his head and drew it forward, pressing a very soft and gentle kiss to his forehead. "I know Frtiz. If I doubted that, I wouldn't be here." Just like she wouldn't be trying if she didn't love him in return.
"If your wonder has issues with you or that stupid a*****e code piece says anything else ridiculous I will kick it's a** I swear to cosmos. It might not have a body, but I'll do it." This time, she took both his hands. "You're never going to know until you decide to face it and I think the longer you wait, the harder it will be for you."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:03 pm
From anyone else, it was a statement that would have been arrogant; but from Fiona, it was gentle, meant to encourage and reassure, and Fritz eased out a breath that shook slightly, giving a slow shake of his head. He lifted his good hand and ran fingers through his hair, then let it drop again.
Fiona had said never mind, but he couldn't let it go.
"I...was mean to him," he said, so quietly it was almost inaudible. "To...to my brother. I didn't know what I was doing, and I was...I didn't approve of his relationship with Hitch. I couldn't - I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Around the fact that my brother had been suffering for years and I couldn't - I couldn't do anything about it, and Hitch just..."
Hitch did what I couldn't. Hitch pulled him out of that, reminded him of a reason to live.
Fritz took a deep breath, looking up at Fiona, a faint, slightly rueful smile on his face.
"We talked things out. I just...have a hard time forgiving myself for not being able to be there for Rhys."
It still felt strange to call him that, after twenty-five years of calling him Tolliver. Fritz felt gentle hands on either side of his head, and then the softest press of Fiona's lips against his forehead. He stiffened, automatically, his chest tightening; and then relaxed, after a slow, deep breath, letting the moment be what it was.
Her hands felt smaller around his own, but he knew the strength of them only too well. Fritz sighed.
"I...I just..." He swallowed hard. "I know I should, I need to, it's just..."
Another breath. You can do this.
"If...if you go with me, it might be easier," he said finally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2016 2:11 pm
The question was out of her mouth before she could help it, before she could even think twice about it. "Did you disapprove because it made you uncomfortable because it wasn't what you wanted for him or thought he should want?"
Immediately she regretted asking the question. It wasn't her place, she didn't know the full story. She didn't know Rhys. But she did know Hitch. Or at least enough of him to know that the man was so helplessly in love that someone could write a best seller about their romance if given the chance.
"No, this is off topic. I shouldn't be asking questions or giving opinions about something I know very little about. Sometimes forgiveness isn't about forgiving yourself but knowing that others have forgiven you and still want you regardless of your mistakes." Despite all the struggles she'd had with Fritz, she'd welcome him back with open arms again and again and again.
"We might have magical identities and something akin to superpowers, but we're still human Fritz and I think you need to remember that." Humankind was not perfect. "And if you want me to go with you, then I'll go with you. I've got plenty of strength, I don't mind lending it to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:38 pm
The question made him stop, curling through him, settling into his heart. Fritz sucked in a sharp, unsteady breath that was almost painful, his chest feeling tight, as though breathing was something unfamiliar. He could see Rhys' devastated face in his head, Eurydike running after the general on the rooftop, the two of them - no, the three of them, together, finally, at last.
A breath escaped that was almost like a laugh. One of Fritz's hands was pressed against his temple, fingers massaging lightly.
"I thought I knew better than he did," he said simply. "But I didn't. He's...he's happy now. He's forgiven me, and so has Hitch, and I...am very grateful to have them both in my life instead of losing them, which was always the most frightening thing."
He reached out and caught Fiona's hand before he could change his mind about it, giving her fingers a gentle, brief squeeze before letting go again.
"Thank you," said Fritz quietly. "For - for that. For...forgiving me. I know it's taken a lot, but you have no idea how much I've needed you and the others these past few months. You've made it bearable and one day I will be able to repay that kindness of yours."
He took another breath, his fingers curling in his lap.
We are still human.
"...all right," he said finally, after a moment had passed. "I'll...I'll go to my Wonder again."
And then we will see if it truly still wants me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 4:46 pm
"Friendship isn't something you have to repay Fritz," Fiona said softly, watching him from beneath her lashes because it was easier than looking at him. Or at least, she thought that maybe it was easier for him because she knew that when she looked too intensely, people tended to cower beneath it.
Kam always hated how she looked at him after, when they reminisced too much and he could still see the vulnerabilities in her armor.
Fritz didn't need to see the Fiona with chinks her armor, he needed to see the strong and unbreakable side she was too capable of projecting. So that was the side she presented. For all her kindness, Fiona had incredible strength.
"Okay, let's go." She said determinedly. "Right now. It's daylight, you've got me and this place is away enough from the city to keep from drawing too much attention. If it drains you too much, there's a your room to rest in."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 6:19 pm
He took a shuddering breath and tried to remember this.
Friendship is a kindness and a generosity, not a debt to be repaid.
It was a hard concept, especially for Fritz; but he knew she was right, because Fiona had yet to lead him astray. He stared up at Fiona now, eyes wide and startled, because he hadn't expected to go now, when he was still trying to get used to the idea in the first place.
"I - " he started, and then stopped.
If he didn't go now, then when? If he didn't go now, then would he ever go, or would it just be something he put off time and time again until it was too late, until there was nothing left for him there? He knew himself too well; if he did not go now, then he would not go ever.
Fritz slowly climbed to his feet, reaching for the discarded brace and carefully snapping it back onto his wrist, fastening it with his arm pressed against his stomach to keep it from falling off while he fiddled with it.
"Okay," he said, taking a breath. "Okay. Let's go."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2016 7:47 pm
"Fritz," she said softly, an almost laughing tone to her voice. "Let me help you," she offered, though it had appeared to be too late because Fritz had handled it. Fiona exhaled slowly, head tilting as she held her hand out to him. "Do you want Fiona or Denebola?" She asked with a furrowed brow.
It didn't matter to her, she'd seen enough of her own homeworld to believe that any living dangers were nonexistent but she would do whatever he thought was going to be the best.
As far as she was concerned, the cards were all in his hand. Not hers.
"Okay, let's go to Celsus."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 5:51 pm
He considered for a moment.
"Denebola," said Fritz, with a small nod. Old hesitancies and new self-consciousness made him pause before reaching out and accepting her offered hand, the fingers of Fritz's good hand wrapping loosely around Fiona's. He tried to ignore the sense of unease that stemmed from what they were doing; the sense of fear, lingering and fighting at the back of his mind.
"We can power up a few blocks away, and then - to Celsus."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 10:36 am
"Okay," she said with a firm nod, fingers closing around Fritz's hand. She lead them back towards the front door, because if he wanted to move away from her new home that was fine. She trusted him and was willing to do what needed to be done to make him feel more at ease.
It wasn't hard for her to deduce that he was nervous, unsure, worried.
"Hey," she said very quietly as they moved away from the house. "It's going to be okay. At the very least you've got me and - " Fiona didn't really know what she would do if a problem arose, but she figured that she would figure it out. She was nothing if not quick on her feet.
"I don't think there's anything we can't get through together."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2016 8:21 am
He followed after Fiona, letting her guide him and felt the steady pulse of his own breath in his chest, wondering whether or not he would actually be able to do this. It had been so long, after all; maybe things had changed. Was Aurelius still there? Would Aurelius even want to see him? What if his Wonder had somehow collapsed from the inside out in his absence? But surely he would have felt that happening, wasn't that the case? Surely he would have noticed -
Fritz took a breath that hurt his throat and gave Fiona a small, hesitant smile as she looked at him. Her words were a balm to his heart, even if they didn't completely erase everything that was twisted and curled up inside of him.
He wasn't even sure anything could erase all of that.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "I - forgive me, Fiona, but I'm relying a great deal on you and I...appreciate you an enormous amount. I don't think I could do this without you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2016 1:08 pm
Knights and senshi were such different things that Fiona couldn't begin to think about what might await them on his wonder. If she was scared, it didn't show. She knew what she needed to present herself as, so she did.
She only stopped walking when she felt like they were a far enough distance away. When she thought it was far enough that Fritz would be comfortable and she let go, fished her henshi pen from her pocket, fingers curling around it like it was a safety line.
"Oh Fritz," she said softly, hint of sadness in her voice. "I know, don't worry. You've got me. I don't mind you relying on me."
From there, she left things in his hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
