Welcome to Gaia! ::

Caedus was fast, when he had a bit of warning. He was always on edge and high alert, especially when the Negaverse was around, but he’d thought he’d have been safe this time of day. He was in a quiet part of Destiny City, minding his own business and observing the changing seasons.

There was so much that he’d missed out on while trapped in the Rift, and he had always been weak to the whims of his wanderlust. He’d spent too much time hidden away.

By all means, he should have been safe to spend today out here, sitting on an old tree stump and watching the way the sun caught the edges of the leaves as they trickled from the tallest branches.

A pile of leaves moved in front of him and he was on his feet and darting towards the trees even before it registered who it could have been. To be fair it could have been a normal person, or a Negaverse agent, or a dog, or even a squirrel and he might have had the same reaction.

He wore no disguise; it was incredibly easy to identify who he was, if anyone should know him. He was wearing tall boots, and tight, dark pants, and a pale orange sweater. He had never been picky about what he was given to wear and always appreciated what was shared with him.

If he had known he would have had company he would have dressed more impressively.

…He stood, rigid and tense with his back pressed against a thick tree as he listened to his sudden company. If he hadn’t been seen, maybe he could just stay still until they left.

If he had been seen…

Well, he was fast. Sometimes. Not faster than someone who could appear out of nowhere, though.

For a moment, Caedus did not move. He remained rigid behind the tree and held his breath for almost as long as he held himself out of sight.

Every interaction was a debate, and a thorough internal argument needed to take place before he could give an answer. He might not have seen her, but the voice was undeniably Aeleas’. He hadn’t seen her in ages, but he had to anticipate that maybe this was a trick.

“Well enough,” he answered cautiously. He gave no further information on the matter. He didn’t want anything to get back to Lyndin.

“...The leaves are not a trustworthy method of travel. I have tried. They choose a path for you to follow.” Guarded, but not unfriendly. Just cautious. Slowly, he stepped from behind the tree but he kept his distance.

“Earth is no more mine than yours. And there is plenty of it for the both of us. You are not intruding. How have you been?”

Caedus eyed the food she offered and contemplated briefly before nodding. “I have a fondness for Earth foods. I would like to share yours and talk, if you like.”

He didn’t take the food but he did gesture for her to follow him to a fallen log. He seemed familiar with it; there was a spot he gravitated towards, and he sat down with a soft sigh. He seemed to creak as he moved, but there was a beautiful view of the city through the trees.

He did not put on his glamour but he was quiet for a moment as he considered her words.

“I have a fondness for Earth, you know. It is why I am so keen to save it. I am glad you have found a family here. But you should not resent the Vanguard. They want to save their family. I want to save them, too. Just…”

Not for the price they were asking.

Absentmindedly, he rubbed his chest as he looked at the city in the distance.

“There are many who are researching different ways to help. Some are trying to find ways to stabilize Velencya. Some are trying to find a way to restore Velenia. I do not know the extent of the research, but I know that everyone only wants to save what is important to them. I do not resent the Vanguard, you owe me no apology on their behalf. If I may pry, what is it that you despise about them? And what do you think so appealing about Knighthood?”

Now seated, Caedus let himself be tempted by the food. He took a pastry similar to Leah’s, but held it for a moment as he listened to her. She spoke of family so easily. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have those he was close to here on Earth, and he knew it wasn’t fair for him to judge her for finding comfort. So, he didn’t.

He had no true family on Earth. He had none of Velencya, either.

He was fond of both worlds, but he belonged to neither. Every act of kindness, every space someone made for him meant more than he could say. He understood her attachment to her Earth-family.

“The universe does not always give us purpose. Sometimes we must find our own.” He fell quiet for a moment, like he was considering these words. He could speak them, but it didn’t seem as though he were talking of himself, after all. He’d had purpose from the moment he was born.

He’d just failed all aspects of it.

“Betrayal is a strange thing. I do not think it is…quite so black and white.” Betrayal, he was familiar with, too. He had a faraway look on his face and began to pick at the pastry held carefully in his hands.

“I do not think the others would ostracize you. But I understand a need to keep some distance. I have always thought of the Vanguard as the Knights of Velenia. Velencya. I suppose I struggle to make the distinction as you are, so I apologize for that. But their goal is to protect their world, and their people. Those close to them. You can protect still, can you not? This world, or any other dear to your heart? I think there are so many opportunities here. Earth is the center of the universe, I think. Do not give up hope. There are many who would help you reach your goals. Who would support you. You cannot let yourself become lost in the fog of your mind. Negative thoughts will drown you. You have to push through them. I know it is difficult.” Of this, he had experience. His voice had softened and he was still not looking at her. “...But you have come too far to give up. You are still so young. You have your whole life ahead of you, and you can do so much.”

Caedus was quiet for a moment as he mulled over her words. On one hand, he wanted to be somewhere that she could find him. He wanted to trust her. He’d trusted, and been hurt, before. His smile was sad, somewhat absent. It didn’t quite look right on his face.

He had friends. People from Earth who were kind to him, who looked after him. He was alive, in part, because of them.

He didn’t want to bring danger to them.

“I will do my best to be around,” he promised. “I move often.” It wasn’t that he enjoyed it, he just knew what danger it was to be predictably in any one place for too long. “I hope I will see you soon.” He hoped for a lot of things, though. He hoped for her happiness, and her vitality, and her safety, as he did for all of the Velencians trapped here on Earth because of him. “Not just because of your gift of sweets.” He did not admit that he was lonely, but he did confess, “I find your company very welcoming.”