Closer to You
Chapter 7 Characters: Natsu Obinata, L'lolamo Lolomori(Hydaelyn), Fuyu'li cen Zwhan, Keith Summers, Carter Summers, @driftward 's Nyx Blackmoon, @mintibunny 's Minti Chocolate, X'ruhn Tia Rating: T for inTerogation Notes: Thank you @driftward for the mechanics pass
After climbing out of the waters of The Clutch, the party made the trek to Blackbrush Station, wet and sore from battle. X’ruhn said his goodbyes to Natsu before heading off with L’lolamo and Nyx to the Forgotten Springs to appraise the village on what had happened. This left the Summers brothers and Minti to watch over Fuyu’li, awaiting Natsu to interrogate him. As the Auri girl approached the inn where her friend was being held, she heard Carter’s voice from outside, “JUST TELL US WHERE THEY ARE!” Hurrying inside, Natsu found Minti and Keith quietly drinking tea outside the bedroom where Carter and Fuyu’li were, the latter still looking a bit shaken from falling off the train and into the waters. Worried that the Hyur might take his anger out on Fuyu’li, Natsu pushed into the bedroom, finding her friend bound to a chair with a dark specter firmly holding him down by shoulders while Carter leaned into his face while Jannie leaned up against the wall and watched quietly.
“Is all this necessary,” Natsu asked cautiously, only to have Carter whip his head angrily toward her.
“He’s kidnapped my fiance and at least two others. He’s lucky he has information I want, otherwise I’d have tossed a stone on him and left him in the reservoir to his fate.”
Fuyu’li audibly gulped at the passive threat before thrashing his tail and struggling. “I will not apologize for acting on my master’s orders! I would gladly bear the weight if it meant finding his sister!”
Natsu pinched the scales on the bridge of her nose, shaking her head as she let out a deep sigh then knelt down in front of the Miqo’te. “Fuyu, as I said on the train: What sense would it make for your master to have traveled all the way to Eorzea? Let alone kidnap strangers?”
Carter huffed, crossing his arms as he impatiently glowered down at Fuyu’li, making the Garlean cowered under his gaze. His tail flicked a bit as he opened his mouth to answer a few times but not finding the words before interrupted as Jannie let out an audible: “Hmm.”
“You got something you add,” Carter asked, turning toward Jannie.
“Perhaps,” the Elezen mused before pushing off the wall to search Fuyu’li’s face, “This master of yours. Is he an Auri boy with a pale complexion and crimson eyes?”
The Miqo’te perked up, eyes wide as he nodded, “You know my master then?”
“Varshahn? Of Radz-at-Han,” Jannie asked.
“Yes! You do know him! Please tell them that my master is kind and benevolent and would not dare hurt his captives! We just want to get back his dear sister!”
“He’s definitely been played the fool here,” Jannie said, not addressing the mewling miqo’te as he excitedly looked to have himself and master exonerated, only to have his head, tail, and ears hang limp.
“Yes, I suspected as much. His encounter fits the pattern of our experience with the imposter,” Natsu said, arms crossing.
“I know what the young master looks like! And how he talks! There is no one more important to me and you think I would not know his face and voice,” Fuyu’li protested.
“That’s exactly the caveat of dealing with the Imposter. They look and sound like the person you care for the most,” Natsu sighed.
“I take it that you separated from Varshahn some time before the events of the Final Days. Your young master has been recently reunited with his sister through the efforts of one of the very people you helped to abduct,” Jannie said softly.
Fuyu’li sat still a moment, looking straight ahead before down at his feet. “I don’t understand…I was on a mission…He said that I was helping him…How could that be true?”
“Someone manipulated you in the cruelest of ways and you believed them because it is hard to see what the heart shields you from,” Jannie said knowingly before tilting the other’s chin up with her finger, “Now, tell us what you did for who you thought was your master and what their intentions are, otherwise, this very angry young man is going to understandably lash out at you for robbing him of his most precious person.”
Natsu watched as Fuyu’li winced then looked up into Jannie’s eyes. For a moment he seemed to struggle again with his words before giving a relenting nod as he sat back. “My young master approached me when Natsu and I were in Ul’dah. He wished to use my knowledge of computers and Garlean resources to help him acquire a means to achieving his goal of finding his sister.”
Fuyu’li furrowed his brow then closed his eyes, ignoring the impatient huffing of Carter as he continued his story, “Looking back I could have volunteered some information about my master, but he seemed to know so much about me and my past…Anyroad, he asked me to help him seek out those who have the blessings of the Echo as before the fall of the Empire I was apart of the Resonance project. I studied those with the Echo deeply and did…unspeakable things to learn about them in the name of the Empire.”
“Enough of this. I don't care to hear some Garlean filth try for sympathy. I want to know where Hayzel is now or I'll,” Carter started, only to be silenced as Jannie reached over to press her finger against his lips.
“Continue,” Jannie said.
Fuyu'li flicked his tail, putting it into his lap to wring as he avoided everyone's gaze, “I wanted to…make up for that. My master saved me when I had been tossed into the sea for dead. I wanted to help people, and most importantly the one who showed me kindness when I didn't deserve it. So when he asked me to use my knowledge of the Echo to help, I jumped at the chance. It was mostly interviews, to see if there were those who had abilities beyond just peering into the past. I met Miss Jinba who could see the future and then Hayzel who could bring about the manifestation of dreams.
“When my master learned of them he took an interest, and brought them to me. He wanted their assistance in helping him find his sister. I promise they're being cared for in the most luxurious manner we could provide!”
Carter scoffed then grabbed the hilt of his sword. Fretting, Natsu moved between him and Fuyu’li, “And what about Leon? Did you do that Fuyu’li? At the Gage Acquisition Headquarters?”
Fuyu'li shook his head, “I don't know a Leon. I tried to hack into their database given their reputation of housing Echo users; however, the system was locked out during my attempts to access it and my master said that he would investigate there themselves.”
Natsu let out a sigh of relief, happy to hear he was ignorant of the murder. Moreso, she remembered that the others had been upset about Y’zel seemingly activating a fail safe due from tampering with the login information. She wondered if he somehow knew that they'd be targeted.
“And I suppose you took Violet for her ability to commune with the lifestream,” Jannie asked.
“Yes,” Fuyu'li answered.
“And where have you taken them,” the Elezen woman asked, shifting to stand beside Natsu, weary of Carter's vengeful intentions.
“Roaming. We made use of the rail systems left behind during the Garlean occupancy. They could be anywhere between the ruins of Carteneu and Gyr Abania,” Fuyu'li answered weakly.
“So nearly half of Eorzea. You better have something more than that,” Carter growled.
“Sadly I do not…,” Fuyu'li said before letting out a cry as the shadow sank sharp claws into his shoulders.
“Mr. Summers, while it is a crime to apprehend another against their will, it is not one punishable by death; however, in Thanlan, murdering someone is. As it stands Fuyu'li is the only one who has any insight into the whereabouts of our friends and loved ones. Maybe it'd be best if you moved on to scout Mor Dohna to see if you can find a lead on train sightings. I'm sure Miss Rowena will have had her people watching what has been coming and going.”
Carter stared then grunted, turning his attention to Natsu. “You're pursuing this right? If he gives you anything useful you better linkpearl my brother.”
Natsu simply nodded, letting Carter storm out to fetch his brother and Minti. Exhaling, she looked back to Fuyu'li, “You're going to make this right or I might very well let him do as he pleases. I can't believe you could fall for such a thing!”
“You just don't understand what my young master means to me,” Fuyu'li pouted.
Natsu frowned then hugged herself, unable to forgive her friend. Jannie sighed then gently collapsed her hand on the girl's shoulder. “I will see about getting us something to eat. Do not leave. I will find you.”
Fuyu'li gulped, having not had words land with such fear in his stomach since his mother scolded him as a boy. He turned to Natsu who refused to face him. “I'm…sorry.”
“You should be.”
“I know.”
“You abandoned me.”
“I know.”
“I've been…so lonely.”
Fuyu'li’s ears dropped as Natsu started to rub her eyes. He could do little more than apologetically stare up at her and wait for her to compose herself. Sniffling, Natsu looked at him then turned away again.
“There was another that was kidnapped. Patient Heaven from Old Sharlayan. A Roegadayn woman.”
Fuyu'li tilted his head, “That name doesn't sound familiar. The only three we enlisted…er…are the three I disclosed.”
Natsu turned, “Are you certain? She was among the first to have been reported missing and did not turn up after.”
“No. I have a pretty good memory. I don't remember anyone like that. We never left the main continent.”
Natsu started a moment, her friend's genuinely confused face assuring her of his ignorance of the matter. Jannie soon returned with bowls of stew on a tray, raising her brow at the girl as she looked up. “Did you get something useful out of him?”
“I think so. We should make for Old Sharlayan and find out more about the first abduction.”
“Alright then. And him?”
Natsu sighed, “If I don’t keep an eye on him I’m afraid he’ll just find a way to get into trouble.”
“What? I am perfectly capable of-” “Do I need to remind you who helped you out on our visit to Costa De Sol,” Natsu snapped, not turning back as he cowered.
“Ah…but I should return to my master-”
“Not until we clean up the mess you made!”
Jannie sighed, putting the tray aside and helping herself to her bowl of soup while watching the two, unable to avoid thinking that the two fighting reminded her a bit of Violet and U’rahn.