Magic Melodia

“Don’t be sorry. It is better that I know about this. I… want you to be comfortable telling me things… and vice versa. But… you really don’t have to push yourself if it’s too hard.” she murmured. Trying to let the lingering upset from this conversation from Icarus and herself roll off her back. It was harder than it looked but she could manage. She always had before. She kissed his forehead, and then gave him a quick peck on his lips before she really moved away to go back to her chair and food.

“My last concert huh? That was several months ago. It was a Charity Concert. And it was right on the beach. We almost didn’t think it was going to happen because it had been raining so much. But someone got hold of somebody who had a partner that new Sunny day and things got better.” a smile started crawling across her lips then.

“You don’t have to say more my Ballad. We are here, you are safe. And… I am glad you told me. And let me know you better.” She kissed his head and lay her cheek on his head. She was going to hold him till HE wanted to let go.

“Thank you, Lullaby,” Icarus cooed, giving her a squeeze before finally letting her go, “I’m sorry about that, but I guess it’s better for us to know than to not know.”

What did that mean for his sister? Did that mean…? Because he kept saying in the passed tense…. She felt a lump forming in her throat as she put her arm around the back of his neck and pulled their linked hands against her heart.

“Were you….. in the illegal fighting rings too? Were… you made to fight her?”

“No, nothing quite like that,” Icarus answered, feeling the soothing energy Balia was radiating. He could taste the worry buried deep beneath it, not just for him, but for someone else. Perhaps Kas? Had he been subjected to Nuzlocke rings? That would explain the sheer size of the man, most people don’t just workout to get that massive.

But she also didn’t want to push him if it was too painful. She was that way with Kas as well. She left her fork on her plate.

“Icarus….” she paused, reaching her hand out to gently run a finger across one of his. A gentle invitation to give him her hand if he wanted it. What she wanted was to get up and put her arms around him. Because whatever happened, she could feel it was a hard thing. But his last words sounded… well the implications of it could be he felt that something bad had happened to her because of him? She wasn’t sure.

“I want to know you better, my Ballad, and I’m here for you if you do. I can talk about some hard things…. but you are not me.” she paused again. Struggling with how to say what she wanted to say and all of the different things she could say. 

He pursed his lips, looking up at her finally, “The reason my sister protected me and why I ultimately lost is because...”

The words rattled around in his head. The reason he sang instead of fought. Why he wasn’t comfortable sharing his past or his life intimately with others. Why being with Balia, another Pokemon, was so important but also so very scary to him.

“Thank you I… just don’t want you to miss out on things you enjoy because of me.” Balia gave a little smile. Grateful to him, and about the change in topic. If he wanted to talk to her about these things she would. But still.

“I think they’re pretty great. I’m exactly like my mom except for our hair and eyes. And uh… well except for the fact she’s a normal human. And so is Papa-Kord. But he’s a little more like my oldest sister Seliece. Calm and quiet. He’s the Harbor Master back home on the Island. My Mama is my hero. She saved us. But my Step-Dad is a hero too. He showed us, me and my siblings…. how a real Dad should be. He really loves my Mama and us.” her smile was back to full, and grateful to her stepdad. That he made her mom happy. 

A tinge of unease crept into Icarus’ tone. His hand twitched, instinctively wanting to reach up and protect the notes tattooed to his arm. Very few people knew his story, only Arcelia and their manager being privy to some of the harsher details.

“My sister and I were...” he hesitated, looking down at his food. He talked about her so little, so sometimes it was hard to mask the fear in his voice, “We were basically inseparable when we were younger. She’d protect me from anything and everything, myself included, haha.”

Oh crap. That was right! She totally forgot that. She felt bad for that. 

"Oh really? I think I would like that. Have you been talking with my manager? Or theirs?"

Balia chewed her bite of food pensively. It was good. The sun-dried tomatoes going well with the fresher sauteed vegetables and the rest. The Gnocchi having taken on the flavor of the light sauce, and the sausage adding a little spice to it. But then Icarus was looking at her like that and she couldn’t help the blush she already had moving to her ears as well. 

Icarus let her answer, nodding softly to whatever she said. Then he let their answers hang in the air for a moment before speaking again.

“Comedy is always nice. And uh… well if you want something scary just be warned I might jump on you at some point…” she blushed, and it deepened at his compliments about the food.

She thought about what she’d told him. She wasn’t sure if she should have told him her thoughts about how Kas felt about certain things. It probably wasn’t her place. Balia was actually a little disappointed at how he felt about it. She’d always wanted to have that. Maybe a kid or two. But both of those things, especially the topic of kids, was not in the cards for her. Especially what with her also dating Icarus. But she was not hurting because of it. Her life was so full now. Mostly because of their love.

“Good! That’s the best part for me too!” she was smiling again. Kissing his cheek before she sat down in the chair.

He poured them both a glass, then put the bottle up. When he returned, he pulled a chair out for Balia.

Balia blinked and then caught onto what he was on about.

“Oh! No. It’s not. It’s a promise ring. He told me he doesn’t believe in marriage, at least for himself. But he wanted to get me and his other mates something that said he was committed to our relationship as it is. And I believe him.” she told him softly. She was watching his reaction. Considering how he tended to feel whenever the subject of Kas came up and such she seen, and felt that the ring on her hand had worried him. She could understand it.

“I see. Well, I don’t personally get it, but if it makes you happy, then I’m happy,” Icarus kissed her hand again, “I wouldn’t ask you to take it off, so don’t think I feel that way about it. W-why don’t I pour us some tea while you tell me what’s all for dinner?”