❝A lotta’ people do!❞

pluviatilis

    Acrid fear rests against his tongue as he awaits Machina’s arrival.  There’s anxiety in his heartbeat; beneath his flesh crawls insect-worry.  He has to say–has to tell–such important information that may, may, may get him rejected.

    Machina with his outstretched fingers and featherlight smiles.  Machina with empathetic ears and warm loyalty.

    NERVES are unbecoming in the vacuum of emotions he’s been taught to maintain but he can’tcan’tcan’t calm down he can’t calm down he                                                                    can’t

    His fingers twitch into fists.  He’s shifting his weight in front of the fountain where cadets flow like the water at his back.  Time seems to tick by so slowly, painfully, yet he waits.

    Ace waits.

      There’s a skip in his heartbeat as Machina makes his way towards the courtyard. Ace had approached him earlier, requesting to meet him there later that afternoon. Said he had something to tell him. What Ace could possibly have to say had weighed heavily on Machina’s mind throughout the rest of class.

    Machina is right, of course: he has no reason to be upset over his brother and Ace’s relationship.

    There’s still notable disbelief across Ace’s otherwise stoic expression, yet as silently requested, he shakes his head and lets it go.  No, he knows there’s more to this, but if Machina is unwilling to delve further with honesty, Ace assumes it isn’t worth further consideration.  ❝If you say so.❞  In truth, he hasn’t the patience to pry.

    Machina is unbearably stubborn.

    Without further comment, Ace turns his full attention back on the chocobo.  Chichiri seems to be observing them, as if she can understand their words, and truly, it’s sweet.  She’s an intelligent bird.  Ace smiles despite himself and brushes his hand down the column of her neck.  ❝Will you tell Izana that Ace says hello?❞  His eyes meet hers, and leaning closer, he bumps his forehead against Chichiri’s beak.  ❝Thanks, girl.❞

      Ace isn't the typically the type to pursue an inquisition. He doesn't hesitate to drop any further questions and for that, Machina's grateful. As Ace redirects his attention to the yellow bird beside them, Machina keeps his eyes trained on the blond with a faltering expression.

          ❝…… Am, too!

                        Just ask my friends– they’d agree with me!❞

    Curious.  Right.  The disbelief is evident in that razor blade gaze, and intuition tells Ace that there’s more to this than what he’s told.  ❝Does it upset you?❞  The question comes with a bitten bullet, and Ace turns on his heel to fully face Machina.  The fierce scrutiny seems to read every line and hear every ounce of telltale bullshit Machina tries to drop.

    Getting past Ace is no easy task.

    Still, Ace chooses not to press further, instead placing a hand on his hip and releasing an exasperated sigh.  He hasn’t a clue why Machina would care, nor does he understand what purpose he could possibly have for lying, but Ace isn’t nosy enough to press the heel of his boot to Machina’s throat.  (More than anything, he’s irritated that Machina would think this any of his business.)  Whatever, Machina.

    ❝We do?❞  Izana talks about me?  Ace’s heart gives a start at the thought.  He doesn’t consider the flow of emotions further–he doesn’t think about his crush or how much Izana means to him, or how Machina himself means -

    ❝Well, we talk about a lot of things,❞ his voice is soft as he runs his fingers through the chocobo’s feathers.  ❝Everything, I suppose.❞  Curious blues shift to meet Machina’s, a blond brow quirked beneath his bangs.  ❝Why?  Is that a problem?❞  Machina seems overly concerned.  Intense; passionate; heated; Ace’s eyes rove over his companion.  Something seems… off.

      Ace’s voice goes quiet again, sincerity laced within each word despite how little he speaks. Searching the blond’s face for any further affirmation, Machina carefully reads beneath that stoic expression. There’s a sense of fondness that Ace holds for Izana, a feeling so prominent despite Ace’s subtlety. The notion yanks at Machina’s heart. I’m right, aren’t I?

          ❝I guess SOME people don’t               got a sense of humor…❞

    Ace nods as he runs his fingers over Chichiri’s beak, and although the chocobo trills beneath his touch, Ace doesn’t fully see his surroundings; distraction, as it were, comes in the form of vivid thoughts.  Izana hasn’t been contacting Machina, either?  That girlfriend of his must have been incredibly engrossing–Izana adores his younger brother, after all, despite their disagreements.  Was Izana alright?

    ❝Maybe…❞ Ace responds then, yet his uncertainty is evident in his cadence.  Are they close?  ❝I met your brother before you joined Class Zero.  I guess we’ve just had time to get to know each other.❞  Izana has been kind to Ace, offering advice as well as venting his frustrations.  If nothing else, Izana trusts Ace.  Perhaps they truly are close?

    Ace stumbles with the shove.  (There’s a significant difference in physical strength and Ace is acutely aware of his disadvantage.)  With a sigh, he straightens and shoots Machina a lighthearted glare.  Jerk.  ❝Speaking of Izana,❞ he starts then, turning to peer at Chichiri as he leans against the stable.  ❝How is he?  I haven’t really seen him recently.❞ 

    Last he’d heard, Izana had begun to date Emina Hanaharu which–honestly–leaves Ace’s heart rather pained, although Ace is not going to admit to his schoolboy crush on Machina’s elder brother.

“Of course.” There was no way she would turn him down, especially not when he was acting so odd. Maybe it was about exams coming up…? Then again, she doubted that an exam would get him so worked up… No, most likely there was something else that was bothering him. “What’s going on?”

He sounded so awkward, and in a way, it was amusing. If she didn’t think something was wrong, she would have teased him over it, but until she knew that everything was alright, she would hold off. If there really was something wrong, the last thing she wanted to do was make him feel worse.