#colloydweek

The door creaked open and a curtain of golden hair peeked around it. Colette’s eyes shimmered in the glow of the room’s lamp, hesitation filling them. “I’m not disturbing you, am I, Professor?”

Raine sat the mug down onto the table. “Of course not. Is something the matter?”

Colette’s fingers clasped together, her lower lip tucking itself between her teeth. Raine watched her gaze flitter over to the bed, and she smiled as she gestured over to it. “Would you like a seat?”

Colette’s face flushed timidly and she nodded. The two made themselves over to the bed, taking a seat beside each other. Raine waited patiently for her to begin; she knew her to be much more reserved about her worries than the rest of the party, so she felt no need to rush her.

“Do you think…I mean-” Colette shifted awkwardly, the tip of her shoe twisting against the wooden floor. “If someone can take a soul, can a person also give it?”

Raine’s eyes went wide, her fingers lacing together. The question was so out of left field that she hardly had a response for it. She remained silent briefly before turning to Colette. “Where is this coming from?”

“When Martel took over my body, Mithos looked so happy.” Colette’s eyebrows furrowed, her voice soft. “He finally had his sister back after over 4,000 years. And then, when she was saying goodbye, I could see the pain in his eyes. I was just wondering if there would have been a way to help Martel, for her to be able to stay. Um, you know, without losing myself.” The last bit came out as an afterthought, her expression lightening along with it.

Raine sighed through a smile, resting her hand on Colette’s shoulder. “Martel is gone. As much as Mithos may have wanted to bring her back, and as much as you may have wanted to help her, a dead person must be allowed to remain at peace.”

“I understand. It’s just so unfair that someone who loved the world so much should have died the way she did. Someone who would have sacrificed herself for the world.” Her gaze dropped, swallowing to regain composure in her slowly shaking voice. “For a moment, when Martel was inside me, I almost thought that maybe I-”

“Colette.”

Raine’s fingers tightened against Colette’s shoulder, drawing the young girl’s attention. That same sadness that bordered on hopelessness that Raine had seen in her eyes many times over the journey had returned, and remedying that pain was now her first priority. She opened her mouth to speak, but her previous conversation with Lloyd jumped front and center in her mind.

Before her was one of her party members, a student of hers, asking for her advice. She took a small breath, resolving to herself that even if her cold responses could be for the better, maybe a bit of the warmth that Lloyd always seemed to show to Colette would help more than anything else she could offer.

“If you had allowed Martel to remain in control of your body, all you would have accomplished is hurting all of us. Martel would still be dismayed at the way Mithos had been acting, and Mithos would still have seen us as enemies who needed to be destroyed. Saving you was the most important thing at that moment. But,” she paused, waiting to see that glimmer of curiosity begin to bloom in Colette’s eyes, “I think it means something that you were able to accept Martel’s soul.”

Colette’s head cocked slightly to the side. “What do you mean?”

“I believe that the reason the ritual of the Chosen went on for so long was because Mithos never found one that was compatible with Martel. You, however, were. There must be something special about you, something in common with Martel that allowed her soul to inhabit your body.”

Colette’s fingers tightened around themselves, that gentle pull at the corner of her lips a welcomed sign. “Do you really think so?”

Raine nodded. “Even if Martel is gone, I believe that you’re similar enough to her that you can carry on what she stood for. You love this world and want to save it, just as she did. I don’t think you have to worry about giving your soul to her. In fact, it seems like she’s given her soul to you.”

For a split second, Raine was worried that the shiver of Colette’s fingers, paired with the moisture in her eyes, meant her words hadn’t been as warm as she’d hoped. However, as those shaky hands wiped away her tears, Colette’s smile was an assurance that she had performed her duties as a teacher well enough.

“Thank you, Professor. I…I didn’t think of it like that.” She sniffed, gazing up at the ceiling. “Martel spent all that time seeing Mithos change, but she never gave up on him. She always believed he could change back to who he used to be. I think that’s a really beautiful thing.”

A thought struck Raine, a sheepish smile trying to pry itself through the look of calm she’d worked so hard to master. She shook her head; it was so out of character for her, so misplaced in her normally resolute state of mind. “She sounds like Lloyd, doesn’t she?”

Colette blinked; the mention of Lloyd’s name eased the somber look in her eyes. “She does?”

“Has Lloyd ever once given up on saving you, or making sure you’re okay?”

A light flush rose through Colette’s cheeks, her smile growing bashful. “You’re right. He’s always been there for me when I need him, and he always tries to take care of me.”

Raine gave Colette’s shoulder another squeeze before releasing her hold, leaning back on her palms. “I don’t believe you can give away your soul, but instead, you can give parts of yourself to others that they can hold onto.”

Colette nodded, her eyes tranquil and her hands no longer tense. “Thank you for listening, Professor.”

“Why don’t you get some rest now? Tomorrow’s going to be an important day.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Colette rose to her feet, and just as her hand rested on the doorknob she came to a halt. “...Professor, do you think Lloyd is still awake?”

“At this hour he should be sleeping, though I wouldn’t be shocked if he was having a hard time doing so.”

Colette nodded, and a familiar look etched itself onto her face. “Do you think he’d want to talk? You know, if he can’t sleep.”

Raine opened her mouth, wanting to tell her that rest should be Lloyd’s top priority, but then, Colette had always been what Lloyd cared about most. Just as she had been able to ease what was on Colette’s mind, perhaps Colette could do the same for him.

“Just don’t keep him awake too long.”

Colette’s smile was giddy and meek. “I won’t. Good night, Professor.”

With that she left the room, and Raine looked back at her mug, still resting where she’d left it. Had she been warm enough? Eluded some of those cold words that had previously managed to get through to Lloyd all the same? She fell back onto her bed, replaying Colette’s final grin before she left. Her teeth had briefly nibbled on her lip, and her eyes were calm and earnest. A gentle pep had lifted her steps as she’d left the room; she’d practically floated out of the room, her angelic wings nowhere to be found.

Raine grinned. She’d be just fine. And, she reminded herself, so would Lloyd.

xxxxx

“Do you mind…if I come along with you?”

“What?”

She turned to him, admiring the way his hair wafted in the night air; his brown eyes, always so gentle when looking at her, now widened at her request.

“I want to continue to be by your side, just like I’ve been up until now.”

Somehow, in her heart, she knew he wouldn’t refuse her. Not out of hubris, but because she’d known him too long, recognized the way his body relaxed around her and gravitated towards her, to know that being together meant the world to him. And in truth, she meant it when she said she wanted to be by his side. No one else she’d ever met could make her feel important when she felt small and meaningless, or make her believe she had a place in the world when that very world had demanded her sacrifice.

Lloyd blinked once, then twice, before his lips curled upward. “...all right. We’ll go together.” He nodded at her, his grin widening. “Let’s go explore the new world together.”

Her chest swelled, her body barely able to contain her elation. “Okay!” She rocked side to side in her seat, dreaming of the future they’d be able to share once their task was done; a future he’d given her. In her jubilant swaying, the necklace around her neck jingled. She took it in her hand, running a thumb across the gold material, then in circles along the gem resting in the center. Here she was, alive and present, because of it. Because of Lloyd.

“Is something wrong with the necklace?”

Her thumb never stopped, even as she looked at him. His eyes were locked onto the necklace, scanning it for any damage or need for repair. “No, it’s fine. I was just admiring it. It looks so pretty. You did an amazing job on it, Lloyd.”

His fingers touched the back of his head, redness painting his cheeks. “I’m glad you think so. I wanted it to be special, so I put my heart and soul into making it the best I could.”

Colette’s thumb stopped, her heart nearly following suit. “You…really?”

“Yeah. The whole time I was making it, all I could think about was wanting to bring you back.” He smiled at her, then down at the necklace. “I wasn’t sure what I was gonna do if it didn’t work, so I’m glad it did.”

“Lloyd, I…”

What could she say? Her heart had detached itself from the rest of her internal organs, boarded a tiny Rheaird, and was now speeding through her chest and stomach, crashing into her vocal cords along the way. She admired the way he looked at her, the fervidness in his eyes; he always looked at her that way when they were alone. A soothing peace filled her lungs, as if the very air she breathed was filled with that same warmth he exuded.

Lloyd smiled softly, his eyebrows arching. “Are you alright, Colette? Your face is looking a little red.” Suddenly that softness vanished, replaced with a firm gaze and a tense jaw. “You’re not hurt or anything from what happened with Martel, are you?”

Between her formerly decaying humanity and her near-crystallization, both of which she’d kept hidden from him for as long as possible, it was no wonder suspicion tinted his voice, but she shook her head. “I’m fine, I promise. I was just thinking about how you’re always there for me. Sometimes I don’t know how I can repay you for all you’ve done.”

Lloyd exhaled gently, his face relaxing once more. “There’s nothing to repay, you dork. I swore I’d always protect you no matter what.” His hand found hers, his fingers wrapping themselves around her palm; it was so much bigger than hers, and so warm. “And if something does happen, I’ll make sure to save you, as many times as it takes.”

Colette had thought herself a devout girl, but the tightening of his hand around hers showed her there were new lessons to be learned. She swallowed; her face felt hot, but she felt no need to hide it. Even if he didn’t want anything from her, she wanted to give him something, anything. More than just friendship, or devotion; more than her soul. Her body shivered, her fingertips touching his and feeling bubbles floating in her stomach.

What could she give him, to only him?

In slow motion her shaky hands found his cheeks. His eyes widened once more, though he made no effort to move away or stop her.

“Colette…”

She watched him say her name, watched the curve of his lips and the tiny cameo of his tongue. Was he ever as entranced by the sound of his name in her mouth as she was of her name in his? Was the world around him all the brighter being by her side? Where did this protective nature of his come from, the same nature that pulled her close and never wanted to let go?

His lips were soft, softer than she could’ve imagined. Her inhale was shaky; the moment was so tender, and she feared that even the tiniest movement could shatter the warmth. When his arms went around her, pressing her further into him, a small noise echoed from her throat. A low hum was his response, and she melted into him. This form of adrenaline was foreign to her, but was addicting in a way that, should temptation overcome her, she wouldn’t be able to resist.

As their kiss gently broke away, she wondered if she’d given him the same thing.

“Colette, that was-”

She placed a finger over his mouth, shaking her head. “When we leave to begin our next journey, I want to do that again. I…the way I feel now, I want to believe you feel it, too.” She moved her hand away, wrapping her arms around his torso. “You make me feel safe and protected, so I want to make you feel l…lo…” Her voice betrayed her, her throat tightening as she tried to get the words out.

Lloyd answered her by easing himself back, smiling in spite of her confusion and lack of articulation. He held his palm out to her, coaxing her fingertip to press against it. Nostalgia and affection pumped through Colette’s veins, and the corners of her eyes felt hot as she dragged her finger across his gloved hand, spelling out everything she couldn’t say just yet.