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Chapter Five
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When the knock at his door roused him, Fayt was grateful for the full night�s sleep he had gotten, though it was through the help of a couple of sleeping pills that the doctor had insisted that he take with him. He stretched briefly and made his way to the front of the room, still wearing the clothes from the night before. He had been in such a tangle of physical and mental strains that all he had wanted to do once Albel had left was fall into a state of total unconsciousness. He was slowly remembering everything that had happened in the past few days as his awareness from deep sleep returned to him. Once he pushed the button for the door to open and saw Sophia�s glowing face waiting for him on the other side, he remembered everything that he had said to Albel. Instead of greeting her, Fayt stared blankly into her eyes. He would have to tell her. And he wasn�t ready at all.
Sophia twisted her face into a mixture of confusion and amusement. She passed her hand in an arc before his face to get his attention. �Are you still sleeping there, Fayt?�
He blinked twice and focused. She was smiling at him so sweetly that he imagined that there could not possibly be any hidden intentions behind that face. She held a box filled with bags of dehydrated fruits and two bottles of water.
�Erm, I was hoping you would share these with me, if you�re not busy.� Sophia cast a quick look behind him into the room as if to confirm that he really had nothing to do.
Guilt settled like cement in his stomach. How could he tell her that he was leaving her to fend for herself from then on? That he was choosing to spend his life with someone he barely knew over a longtime childhood friend? Would she ever forgive him something like that?
Fayt smiled. �Sorry. I just woke up.� He motioned her into the room. �You must�ve been reading my mind, Sophia. I was dying of thirst.�
She perked up at his attention and handed him one of the bottles. �You just seem really beat lately, Fayt. Mirage said that these have a lot of energy, so you�d better eat a lot of them,� she said in a joking manner and settled down in a chair.
Once Fayt finished half the bottle he obediently rummaged through the bags holding various fruits. He pinched up the most brightly colored one�chunks of something orange�and tore it open. �Thanks.�
Sophia plucked out a few dried berries and talked between them. �Hey do you have any idea what�s going on? I was sure that we were headed to Moonbase, but now we�re going to Elicoor. Do you think something�s wrong?�
Fayt watched her for a moment, imagining her reaction. He didn�t want to stall forever. The sooner the better. She deserved to be told the truth anyway. �Sophia, listen,�
�Oh!� Sophia suddenly cried and made a pained face. �This one is really sour.� Her expression softened and she laughed at herself. �Sorry, what were you saying?�
�Well, you probably shouldn�t tell anyone this, but the reason we�re going to Elicoor first is because Cliff and Albel got in a fight.�
Sophia�s eyes widened. �Was it serious? Why were they fighting? Are they hurt?�
Fayt shook his head. �No, they�re fine. Cliff just got upset so he had them change course. But that�s not what I wanted to tell you,�
�I know, it�s fine. I promise I won�t tell anybody about it, although, I don�t really think anyone would be surprised to hear about those two arguing.�
�It was more than just an argument. They were out for each other�s blood this time.�
Sophia hid her mouth with her hand. �Oh my.�
�Sophia, I have to tell you something.� Damn, how was he going to explain this without making himself look crazy, especially after telling her about Cliff�s and Albel�s recent fight? She was waiting with obvious expectancy. He took a deep breath and decided to just blurt it out. �Once we stop at Elicoor, I�m not getting back on the ship.�
She smiled in confusion. �What do you mean by that?�
Fayt averted his eyes. �I can�t go back home with you. I�m staying there.�
Her smile melted completely. �Fayt, don�t joke like that.�
�I�m serious, Sophia.�
�But why? Where would you stay? What would you do?� Her voice gradually elevated in shock.
�I was thinking about living in Kirlsa. Maybe traveling and helping out where the wars damaged the towns. I could do more there than I could on a planet that�s already advanced.�
Sophia shook her head in an effort to understand. �But what about school? And your mom?�
�I�m not going to study symbology anymore. Not after I�ve seen what it�s done, what it�s done to me. And I�m sure Mom would understand.�
The girl was quiet in contemplation for a moment. �So, you don�t want to see me anymore?�
Fayt looked up. �That is not it, Sophia. You�re my best friend.�
�I don�t understand. What made you decide this all of a sudden, Fayt?�
Fayt studied the fruits in his hand. For a while neither of them said anything.
�Isn�t Kirlsa where Albel lives?�
Fayt looked up, slightly surprised that she had said this. �Yeah, I guess it is.�
Sophia studied him, tears forming in her eyes. He was fidgeting, not looking at her, and obviously uncomfortable. The conclusion was coming down on her like a knife through flesh. �You�re leaving me for him?�
�Sophia, it�s not really that I�m leaving you, it�s just that��
�Then what would you call it?� She was crying now.
Fayt stood and went to her. Sophia passively allowed him to hug her tightly for a moment before she couldn�t help but give in and return his embrace.
�I�m sorry,� he whispered, �I�m not doing this to hurt you. It�s just that something tells me that this is what I have to do.�
�But, I don�t understand him at all. Are you sure you�ll be okay?�
�He�s not going to hurt me. I�m sure of it.�
�Fayt, I�� she broke off in a fit of sobs.
Tears of his own fell unwillingly from Fayt�s eyes and the two just held each other for a long time.
Once Sophia had quieted down, she declared that she was tired. Fayt walked her back to her room and promised he�d come back to visit her in the afternoon. When she agreed and sadly closed the door behind her, Fayt felt his chest muscles squeeze tightly. He knew he had just bruised her feelings, but she would certainly get over it in time. It wasn�t like it was goodbye forever. Cliff probably had some sort of device that could keep them in contact with one another through time and space. Well, depending on how well Cliff took the rejection to his offer for Fayt to stay that is.
Fayt decided to search the blonde out. Better to get the hardest ones done first than to procrastinate and suffer for it. Though he was sure that at least Cliff wouldn�t cry about it. Or at least he hoped as much.
He began in the direction of the sick bay but decided that the Klausian probably would have no need of being there, considering how fast that particular race seemed to recover from their wounds. Fayt stopped and rounded the opposite corner toward Cliff�s room instead, where he collided with the man he was seeking.
Cliff held on to Fayt�s arm to keep him from falling backward. �We�ve really gotta get Peppita to put bells on our shoes or something,� he said and laughed.
�No kidding,� Fayt answered as he recovered his balance. �Maybe I�ll ask her later.�
�You�re looking a lot less like a zombie today. Those pills are great aren�t they?�
�Yeah. I guess I really needed to sleep. You look like you�re doing better too.�
�Heh. I�m practically invincible.�
�Sure, Cliff.�
�So where were you headed?�
�To see you, actually.�
�Is that so? Well I was headed to the bridge if you want to take a walk.�
�Sounds good.�
As the two set out toward the stairs, Fayt wondered how he should phrase that he had decided to blow off Cliff and go with �the psycho� instead. Well, certainly more eloquently than that crude summarization as Cliff would see it.
But as they started on the steps, Cliff was the first to speak. �Did you decide what you want to do?�
He made it sound so simple. Fayt cleared his throat. �Yeah, actually, I have.�
Cliff looked down at Fayt, who was watching the steps in front of him. He sighed through his nose. �Then at least promise to keep in touch every now and then, okay?�
Fayt glanced up, mouth open. �I didn�t even say anything.�
Cliff slapped a hand on the boy�s shoulder. �You�re one of those people that barely needs to use his mouth, Fayt.�
The blue-haired boy frowned. �What�s that supposed to mean?�
�Don�t worry about it.�
Fayt stopped and waited for Cliff to notice that his were the only footsteps echoing against the walls. The blonde stopped two steps up and turned.
�I�m sorry I got mad at you yesterday. It was rude of me when you were injured, but I was just in shock over what happened.� Fayt waited for a reaction.
Cliff smirked in amusement. �What the hell are you talking about, Fayt?�
�Yesterday, I should have shown more concern for your condition, but��
Cliff�s laughter broke Fayt off. �Geez. Didn�t I say I was practically invincible? Besides, it was all a stupid misunderstanding. No harm done.�
�But��
�Hey, don�t sulk too much. It ruins your face.� Cliff said and grinned. �Let�s go.�
Fayt followed after, wondering whether he should resuscitate the issue or just leave it for dead. He couldn�t bury the feeling that something wasn�t yet resolved.
That afternoon, he visited Sophia�s room as promised. She was in a better mood after her nap, and Fayt was able to tell her about the feelings he had about keeping Albel company after Luther�s fall as they sat on Sophia�s bed. He carefully omitted certain facts, however, because he was certain there was no way she would accept them. Besides, she really didn�t need to know them. They were just good friends, he said, even if Albel wouldn�t admit to it. She said she understood, but Fayt wasn�t entirely convinced that was the truth. He did promise that he would get Cliff and Maria to give them each a communicator so that they could keep in contact. This seemed to brighten her outlook somewhat.
�So then you�ll be leaving tomorrow, right?� she asked sadly.
�Yeah.�
�I wish I could go with you.�
�But you�ve got a lot ahead of you, Sophia. I know you�ll do well in school and become successful.�
�Well, to be honest I was thinking of changing my major.�
�That�s probably a good idea. But you�re smart enough to pull through anything. You�ve always been an A student anyway.�
�You think so?�
�I know so.�
She smiled and looped her arm through his. �So do you think we can visit each other sometimes too?�
�That might be a stretch for Maria, but I�m sure sometime she�d lend us something.�
�Well, until then I want you to call me everyday, got it?�
�Okay okay. You sound just like my mom.�
�Aunt Ryoko�s really going to miss you, Fayt.�
�I know.�
��I�m going to miss you too.�
�I know.�
The two fell quiet and simply looked at one another. Fayt was about to stand and tell her that he should get going but she suddenly leaned forward and caught his mouth with hers. Fayt�s eyes widened in sheer surprise at the unexpected move. He was even more at a loss for action when she pivoted her body to straddle his lap and crossed her arms firmly behind his back.
�Would you make love to me, Fayt, just once before you go? I want my first time to be with you.�
Fayt�s heart hammered in his chest so hard it hurt. He hadn�t had feelings like that for Sophia in years, back when he confused their good friendship as a possible crush during his early teens. But it didn�t last, considering how elusive she would be whenever any opportunity would arise. He had finally accepted her as nothing more than a best friend then and it still held. He had never really picked up any different vibes from her end either.
Now, in this situation, he wasn�t sure if he was terrified or just delusional. �W-what?�
�I trust you. And we�ve known each other for a long time. I�ve always wanted you to be my first because I know you would never hurt me and it would be special. And I love you, Fayt.� She kissed his mouth again.
Fayt was sure he hadn�t blinked the entire time because his eyes were getting sore. Was there any feasible way he could deny her this and still retain their friendship? If there was, it wasn�t coming to mind. She undoubtedly believed him to be just as innocent as she was. He didn�t want to entertain images on how she would react if he told her that he had lost his virginity to a man. Very recently, in fact just two nights ago, with someone from another planet.
He gripped her upper arms and pushed her away. �Sophia, we shouldn�t do this.�
She looked hurt. �Why? Don�t you love me too, Fayt?�
�Well, I do, but you�re my best friend!�
�But what if we never see each other again? We might regret it forever.�
Her expression was practically pleading. Fayt had no idea what to say without hurting her feelings. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to do this, he thought, maybe I should just do it, like a goodbye present. He suddenly thought of himself in Albel�s room. Compared to the Elicoorian�s point of view, this was nearly that exact same situation.
�Okay.� Fayt concluded. �Just for tonight.�
It was probably late when Fayt left Sophia snoring softly in bed, though it was always hard to tell when the stars were out twenty-four hours a day. He had fallen asleep naked by her side and had to fumble in the dark for his clothes once awake. As he dressed he thought about what he and Sophia had just done. He was surprised that it wasn�t as bad as he feared it would be, in fact he had really enjoyed it. Though he highly doubted that he would ever be able to talk Albel into being the bottom if such an affair ever arose between them again.
He made his way upstairs to search out something more substantial than dried fruits to snack on. When he entered the small room that served as a kitchen on the ship, he was surprised to find Cliff already there raiding the cupboards.
�Hey. What time is it?� Fayt asked and peered at the shelves over the blonde�s shoulder.
Cliff pulled out a wrinkled silver bag lacking a label and inspected the contents. �About nine I think. Why, what have you been up to?� He plopped down in a bar seat and cautiously tested the food inside.
�I�ve been asleep,� Fayt answered and stood on his toes where Cliff was previously.
�Well now you won�t be able to get to bed until late.�
�Thanks for that tired piece of wisdom, Cliff.�
�Hey, it�s what I�m here for.�
Fayt rolled his eyes and snorted in amusement. �Isn�t there anything good to eat around here?�
�I have no idea what it is, but this stuff�s pretty good.� Cliff held out the mysterious bag like an offering.
Fayt closed the cupboard, approached the thing and carefully reached inside to pull out a handful. �It looks like beef jerky.� Sinking his teeth into the substance, he concluded that it wasn�t dried meat. Although it did have a slight teriyaki flavor. �You�re right, it isn�t bad. Maybe it�s some sort of soy?�
Cliff pulled a face. �Don�t even tell me I�ve been eating that stuff.�
Fayt laughed and sat on the opposite side of the bar so he could easily steal handfuls from Cliff�s bag. It was hardly two minutes before the entire thing was empty.
Cliff wrinkled up the foil and chucked it across the room. �Things are so dull around here at night. I should�ve had a club built in or something.� He yawned and rested his head in his palm, slumping his upper body in mock exasperation across the table.
�Why don�t you read a book or something?�
Cliff looked at him blandly. �I want to get rid of my boredom, Fayt.�
�Back home when I had nothing to do and couldn�t sleep I�d look at the stars.�
The blonde hooked a corner of his lips skeptically. �I wonder if that could really be classified as something to do.�
�Have you ever tried it?�
�Well I�d have to be blind to say �no� and mean it.�
�I don�t mean just looking at them, I mean looking into them.�
Cliff rubbed at his eyes. �You�re losing me.�
Fayt sighed. �Nevermind.�
After a moment of quiet, Cliff spoke again: �So you�re sure you want to be dropped off on Elicoor? This is the last chance to change your mind. I mean, you�ll have a communicator, but it�s an underdeveloped planet all the same. Can you really live like that?�
�I think I might actually prefer it.� Fayt grinned.
�A masochist, huh?�
�I�ve never really liked complicated things anyway. Besides, there�s plenty of room to run around there.�
Cliff shrugged. �I�ll admit that Aquios was nice. I think I could stand to live there.�
�So you could see Nell and the other Crimson Blade girls all the time?�
�Well yeah. And no cold baths either. Hot water and babes are definitely a plus when choosing a place to live.�
�You�ll never change, Cliff.�
�What�s the point of wasting a good thing?�
Fayt propped his face in his palm and studied Cliff for a while before straightening in his seat. He laced his fingers together on the countertop and looked down at them. �Thanks for everything, Cliff. We wouldn�t have been able to do it without you. And I would have been a goner a long time ago if it weren�t for you.�
Cliff straightened as well. �What�s with the sentimental stuff all of a sudden?�
Fayt shrugged. �I just thought you should know that I really appreciated it.�
�Well you�ve saved my own butt on more than one occasion, too. Let�s just leave it as �good teamwork�.�
Fayt smiled. �Alright.�
The two sat in silence, listening to the ever-present hum of the ship�s engines. After a moment the stillness was broken by bells over the loudspeaker, signaling an announcement. Marietta�s voice followed, informing the ship�s occupants that the Diplo would arrive at Elicoor II in twelve hours.
�Not much time left,� Cliff said and stood up.
�Where are you off to?�
�To do the only thing I really can do. Break into my emergency stash of booze.�
�Would you mind if I joined you? There�s no way I�m getting to bed any time soon.�
Cliff crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. �Aren�t you too young to be drinking?�
Fayt stood up. �Hey, only by certain planets� standards. We�re out in the middle of space. I don�t think those rules apply out here.�
Cliff clapped Fayt on the shoulder. �Sounds logical enough to me.� He gestured with his arm and led the way back to the lower level of the ship.
When they got to Cliff�s room, the blonde closed the door behind them and made his way straight to the bed. Sitting on the floor, he reached beneath and extracted a small cardboard box.
Fayt looked at it with mild surprise. �Cardboard? You must�ve splurged on Elicoor before we came back.�
Cliff grinned and lifted out a square brown bottle scripted with blocky letters. �Damn right I did. Why pass up the opportunity to stock up while it�s cheap? Here.�
Fayt caught the bottle that was tossed to him and inspected the label. �Gin?�
Cliff took a similar bottle for himself and plopped down on the bed. �Yeah. Trust me, you�ll love it.� He unscrewed the cap and took a long swig.
Fayt watched the blonde�s face carefully. Seeing that he wasn�t wincing, Fayt decided to dive in. He removed the cap and refused to sniff it before taking in a mouthful. His face clenched up in revulsion but he forced himself to swallow. �Ugh yuck! How can you like this stuff?� He coughed and wiped his mouth.
Cliff folded over in laughter. �Nobody drinks it for the taste. But keep at it. Soon you won�t even notice it.�
Fayt sat on the floor and hesitantly complied. �Hmm. I guess it�s a little better.�
Cliff began bantering about random things and for a while Fayt listened and answered when he needed to. But the alcohol swiftly infiltrated his blood, and it wasn�t long before he was thinking about Sophia. He was having second thoughts whether what they did was the right thing or not.
�Fayt?�
The boy looked up and saw Cliff sitting on the bed, back against the wall, looking at him curiously. �You okay? You�re not already drunk are you?�
Fayt shook his head. �No. Well maybe.�
The blonde grinned. �I figured you were a lightweight.�
�No, I�m fine, I was just thinking.�
�About what?�
Fayt couldn�t help but blush at the memory. He took another pull from the bottle in the hopes that his companion might think of his glowing cheeks as a result from the alcohol.
He didn�t really want to tell Cliff about it. �Just everything that�s happened in the past week. I still can�t believe what we went through.�
�Oh? But hey, we got through it, right? That�s gotta say something about our characters.�
The boy nodded. From somewhere in his mind came the question of whether Albel would care about what he did. Of course not, he thought, it wouldn�t be like him to be jealous over something like that. Albel would think it a trivial matter at best if he even cared at all. Fayt pictured the Elicoorian laughing at him before clapping him on the shoulder. But then as soon as he turned around a sword split him in two. He shuddered.
�Are you sure you�re okay? You look a little green.� Cliff moved from his lax position to join his friend on the floor.
�Yeah yeah. I�m fine.� Fayt rubbed at his eyelids and forced his imagination into the shadows.
�Maybe you should lie down.� The Klausian lifted the bottle from Fayt�s yielding hand and set it aside.
�I think I�ll be okay. I just need to shut my eyes for a minute.� He did so and felt the floor shift beneath him.
�Um, maybe you shouldn�t do that.�
The room started to spin slowly and Fayt reopened his eyes. �Is the ship turning around?�
�That�s just a lousy side effect of being drunk. Just focus on something in front of you and it�ll stop.�
Fayt did as he was told and waited for his vision to clear while Cliff rubbed the back of his head and neck. �I don�t think I like drinking after all.�
�You just need to find your limit. But you�ve got a head start now at least, right?�
�Cliff, what are you going to do once everyone�s gone? Are you going back to the dojo to train?�
The Klausian watched fine blue hairs slid through his fingers as he answered. �No, I don�t think so. Mirage is going back, though. I just can�t right now.�
�Will you stay with Quark?�
�Yeah, most likely. I�m curious to see what the Federation plans to do now.�
Fayt rested his weight against his friend and breathed in deep. �That�s actually helping.�
Cliff continued to lightly massage the boy�s scalp and neck for a few minutes before resting his chin on Fayt�s head to breath in the scent of his hair. He closed his eyes and allowed his own mind to swim. �You smell nice,� he said quietly without meaning to.
�Huh?�
�Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself.�
�Mmm.� Fayt decided to test to see whether it was safe to finally let his eyes rest. To his relief the room was no longer spinning and he allowed himself to doze.
When Cliff heard light snoring from below, he opened his eyes and moved his head to look at Fayt. The boy was already asleep.
�Figures,� he said and carefully moved to get his arms beneath Fayt�s back and knees. He stood slowly to keep from awakening his burden and made his way for the door.
The hall outside was quiet; everyone was either in their rooms or up on the bridge. Cliff made it to Fayt�s room and gently laid the sleeper on the bed. Fayt had barely stirred.
Cliff stood over the Earth-born boy for a while before sitting lightly on the edge of the bed. He smoothed an azure hair from closed eyes.
�I hate to say this kid, but we might never see each other again. It�s not gonna be the same without you around. I wish you would�ve chosen to stick around for a while, but there�s nothing I can do about that anymore.� He paused and lowered his hand to barely touch lightly breathing lips. �Anyway, it was nice getting to know you, Fayt.�
Cliff leaned down and moved his thumb to make way for his lips. He kissed the boy softly, knowing it was his last chance, though he still couldn�t bring himself to truly enjoy it without feeling slightly guilty. Though he was taking advantage of Fayt�s unconscious state, he was respectful and decent enough to make it as innocent as possible. After several seconds he began to pull away, but Fayt�s arm suddenly lopped down across his back and pushed him back down. His mouth was suddenly attacked by the one beneath him and Cliff couldn�t bring himself to pull away. Fayt transcended from lackluster to aggressive in a matter of seconds. They wrestled tongues hotly for some time, and Cliff felt his lower body protesting the lack of room in his tight pants. But when Fayt began to moan and arch his body into Cliff�s, the man knew there would be no stopping this if he didn�t just do it now. He couldn�t use Fayt like that, not when the kid wasn�t even aware of what he was doing.
It was with great strength and regret that he broke their fervent kiss and pushed himself away. Fayt�s eyes were only half open, but he whispered for the other not to go.
Cliff inhaled deep to regain some oxygen. �You�re drunk, Fayt. Go to sleep.�
When Fayt�s eyes slipped back closed, Cliff stole quietly from the room to make his way back to his own. �Damn teenagers,� he muttered.
Once in his own room, Cliff flopped down on the bed and crossed his hands behind his head on the pillow. The blood was still coursing with hot violence through his veins and he bit his lip to distract himself. But the minute his eyes were closed, he felt Fayt�s lips on his, the boy�s body pushing in complete willingness against him. He heard Fayt�s plea for him to stay.
�Dammit!� Cliff swung out a fist that connected with the wall. He should have known better than to give the kid alcohol. But then again it didn�t help that he was also partially intoxicated. He was supposed to be the adult here. Besides, Fayt was half his age. The kid could have been his little brother, or even his son.
But no matter how he tried to justify his guilt, the tang of the boy�s lips, the imprints of his roaming hands wouldn�t disappear. Cliff exhaled long and gave up. He yanked open his pants and the minute he touched himself those justifications dissolved.
When the loudspeaker in Fayt�s room announced their arrival at Elicoor II, he was already awake, mostly. He sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his pounding temples in a vain attempt to ease the pain bouncing through his skull. When the speaker erupted it was enough to make him jump and hold his head in agony.
Great. They were already there and he had a hangover. He would have to do something about it or else his goodbyes would be a poor sight. Fayt rose from the bed and changed clothes before quickly throwing together all of his things in a beaten up knapsack from the closet.
Luckily no one was at the transporter just yet so he was able to slip into the sick bay without any attention.
The nurse on duty looked up and smiled at him. �You�ll be getting off soon won�t you?�
Fayt nodded. �Yes, but I was wondering if I could get some pain medicine first.�
The nurse agreed and handed him a pill with no questions asked. Fayt wanted to kiss her for that particular courtesy but stuck to swallowing down the pill and thanking her before he left. His head was already leveling out by the time Albel joined him at the door leading to the transport unit.
�You�re strangely punctual,� the swordsman accused as he approached. �Can�t wait to get off this piece of junk, too?�
�Very funny.�
�It�s not too late to change your mind, you know. You don�t have to live with us barbarians if you don�t want to.� Albel rested his claw on the handle of his katana and waited for Fayt�s reply.
�I already told you that I was going. I�m not changing my mind.� Fayt crossed his arms as if to accentuate his point.
�Hn. We�ll see how steeled your resolve is after a few weeks sleeping in fields with only freezing rivers to bathe in and monsters constantly stalking your back.�
�Are you trying to scare me into staying?�
�Not at all. I�m just dying to test out my babysitting skills.�
Fayt glared at him. �I can take care of myself without technology just fine. I�ve already done it twice.�
Albel smirked. �We�ll see.�
Sophia was the first to see them off. The minute she arrived and looked at Fayt her cheeks colored. �I guess this is it,� she said and fidgeted the toes of her shoes.
Fayt reached out and smothered her in a hug, which she enthusiastically returned. Albel snorted in irritation and turned away from the spectacle. But when Sophia released Fayt she addressed both of them.
�You had better look out for each other. Fayt, you�ll contact me as much as you can, right?�
He nodded. �Cliff should have some devices for us once he gets here.�
�Don�t you dare forget.�
�Alright alright. I promise.�
Albel rolled his eyes. �Yes, we�ll be delighted to receive something that will transport nagging through time and space.�
Sophia glared at him but didn�t retort. Maria, Cliff, Peppita, Mirage, and several other members of the Diplo crew were already approaching them from the bridge.
Fayt exchanged hugs and handshakes with everyone. When it was Cliff�s turn, he handed Fayt a communicator.
�If you ever need anything, just give us a buzz.�
�Thanks, Cliff,� Fayt said and opened his arms for an embrace.
Cliff hesitated for a moment but accepted, clapping Fayt hard on the shoulder twice before releasing him. �We�ll keep in touch anyway.�
�Right.�
The blonde shot a quick dagger in Albel�s direction before joining the others to send the two off.
�So long, Fayt! Take care, Albel!� Peppita cried and waved enthusiastically as the two boarded the transporter.
Fayt waved at them all while Albel stood rigidly. Most of the girls had tears in their eyes except for Maria and Mirage. He was sad to be leaving them, though it didn�t truly hit him until that moment. But he didn�t have time to shed a tear before swirling blue light enveloped him. When it dissipated into the ether, blinding sunlight took over. It felt as though he hadn�t seen it in ages.
The terrain looked just as it did before he had left from atop the Kirlsa Training Facility. The dull hills of the Granah rose from the ground behind the former stronghold�s walls surrounding the open-air arena.
�Ah, something familiar for once.� Albel strode toward the wall where two headless sentries stood like the very icons of death. He leaped to the upper lever that stretched out along the wall and walked to the edge. �Come here!� he shouted to Fayt.
The latter followed, but had a more difficult time getting up the wall. When he finally made it, he was taken aback by the view of the sea. The sun was high, and the waves glittered far below like molten silver. Fresh salty air blew around him and he breathed the scent in deep. It almost seemed out of place to have been the witness of such a spectacular scene from such a grim place. But Fayt was content to forget that as he stood next to Albel and watched the rolling tides.
�I used to come here nearly every day when I was young. Other than now, the last time I have been to this spot in nearly ten years was that day you came back. I don�t know why, but I wanted to watch the sea that day. Lucky for you.� Albel sneered on that last thought.
�I was wondering where you disappeared to. You didn�t even say goodbye.�
Albel shrugged. �Those things matter not to me.�
�Well, they do to me.�
�Clearly.�
The two stood in silence and gazed out over the vastness of the water while cool breezes stirred the air. Everything that surrounded him pulled Fayt in, and he was content to let go of his worries and regrets for a while. Though he couldn�t begin to know what the future had in store for them, he was confident that the possibilities were just as wide and open as that sea.