A Time and Place
âSeems theyâre taking us seriously.âÂ
The Crystal Exarch broke their companionable silence first, though the soft and bouncing music exuding from seemingly nowhere kept the atmosphere from becoming too tense. Behind them, Alphinaud and Alisaie were examining gleaming portraits hanging from the walls in the prior hallway, the sounds of their footsteps quite comforting.
The Grand Cosmos lived up to its whimsical name.
Fei turned and met eyes with the now hoodless Crystal Exarch, vivid red irises though soft, were rather unnatural. But everything else was exactly as he remembered.
Gâraha Tia. To say he had no suspicions would be a lie, but to put that face to this person made the entire mental exercise almost laughable. When Fei recalled the petulant, rather childlike obstinance Gâraha could have, the calm and eloquent Crystal Exarch seemed an entirely different person. Perhaps though, it was the change that one hundred years in the First would bring, accompanied with all of its sorrow and loss.
Fei nodded, carefully tucking that thought away. âSeems to be so.â They crossed the threshold of the door, walking into what seemed to be an enormous, enchanted ballroom. Alphinaud and Alisaieâs voices faded into the music far behind them, leaving only the tinkling of the metal on Feiâs outfit and the thudding of their shoes. Figures dressed the part in Eulmoran finery spun and twirled, so transparent as to be figments of their imagination.
âWhat grace,â the Exarch mused, head tilted to one side. âI donât sense any aether, so likely not spirits. Perhaps projections?â His question was posed to no one in particular, and did not pique Feiâs interest insomuch as the gentle sway of the Exarchâs skirts. Like he, too, wished he were dancing.
With a quick bite of his lip to contain a smile, Fei mentioned off-handedly, âMy lord, did I ever mention what it is I do in the Source these recent days? When I am not here on the First, I mean.â The Exarch spun around, a curious glint in his eyes, hungry for the information being offered to him like a ravenous kitten.
âI was curious about the costume,â he admittedly freely, gaze darting down the expanse of bare skin before flushing with realization at what heâd done. His eyes quickly fixed back on the face of his champion, and saw the swell of a tiny, satisfied smile. Swallowing, the Exarch waved his crystalline hand. âIt does seem rather conducive to the way you fight, so I thought not to question it.âÂ
Fei took a light step, graceful and poised, and led into it as he danced a small circle around the Crystal Exarch. The manâs eyes never left him, face filled with wonder. âI dance, in a troupe, for the people of Eorzea,â Fei laughed, reaching out and grasping the Exarchâs hands before he could pull away, tugging him into place.
The Exarch gasped. âIs this really the best time? The best place?â
âIf man must wait until the most opportune time, the most opportune place for everything, will he ever get anything?â
And thusly, Fei began to lead, the warmth of the Exarchâs hand on his shoulder and the cool crystal of the other clutched in his own. Whether surprisingly or unsurprisingly, the Exarch followed in stride, steps a little clumsy with disuse but not incorrect, their waltz in perfect sync with the music, and with each other.
The only sound between them was their slightly labored breaths. Fei marveled at the lightness in the Exarchâs limbs as he gained his bearings, the ease of his movements. Though the song never seemed to end, though their dancing companions seemed not to rest, it didnât matter. They moved together as one, and if the Exarch felt dissatisfied with being led, he did not let it show.
A twirl or two later, the two smiled at each other when their eyes met once again. âEven this,â the Exarch said. âIs there naught the champion of Eorzea, the Warrior of Light cannot do?â
âDonât try to ask me to sing for you,â Fei said seriously, leaning down closely to the Exarchâs face as if speaking some grand secret. The breath caught in the Exarchâs throat, and though he looked nowhere else, he knew if he tried he could count every freckle on the Warrior of Lightâs face. âNashmeira and Fâlhaminn both expended much of their efforts, but Fei Qian cannot carry a tune worth a damn.â
A small and somewhat exasperated chuckle escaped between the Exarchâs lips. Seemingly on their own, Feiâs eyes flickered down to them as something twisted gently in his heart, in the same breath. Before either of them really knew what happened, their dancing stalled little by little, step by step, even as they continued holding on. The music and the projections moved on without them, their perpetual reverie missing the two now lost in each other.
Feiâs eyes trailed back up Gârahaâs sunkissed skin, following the harsh and geometric lines of crystal, until their gazes met. That feeling, that soft and tickling ache in Feiâs heart grew, and his lips parted to say something that refused to leave the tip of his tongue.
What do you say so candidly to the man who prepared for more than a hundred years to bring the world to its knees for the sake of your own salvation? Whose purpose and sacrifice revolved around the nigh-unattainable goal of preserving your life at the expense of his own?
âGâraha, I...â Fei hesitated, his thoughts such a whirlwind he missed the way the Exarchâs grip tightened, his eyes gleamed. He wet his lips. âAfter all of this is over, I--â
âThis room is enormous!â Alisaieâs voice echoed over the music and like a frightened cat, Gâraha leapt back to a safe and not at all compromising distance. Fei remained slightly hunched, the words heâd wanted so desperately to say swallowed back into his lungs. Unlocking the depths of his heart was too much to hold, too much to bear. The fear and doubt nearly swallowed him whole, the agonizing loss of love kept his words chained to his breast.
As the twins made their way over to them, Alphinaudâs curious expression speaking volumes while the Crystal Exarch shuttled them along towards their destination, Fei realized something.Â
Perhaps, this was not the time or the place.
