Thank You from the Other Side
It had been a very long few weeks for Inspector Darius Kinkaid. After having a near death encounter with the last avatar of Odin, and with the duel with Raise drawing ever closer, he simply needed a break. A break from all the work and stress that life had piled on him all at once.
Of course, he didn’t stray far. He really couldn’t. He was still feeling sore from the injuries he had obtained from his recent battle. So he sat on the beach not far from his office, leaning against the soft fabric of the beach chair, quietly nursing a cup of Thavnarian Rum. He closed his eyes, listening to the gentle roll of the ocean, enjoying the warm breeze as it rolled over him.
He was so engrossed in his drink and his own thoughts that he didn’t notice the young lady, clad in light blues that flowed over her lithe form like water, walk up to him. He didn’t notice her standing next to him, tracing circles in the sand with bare feet, until she spoke.
“Hey,” she greeted, and he almost jumped at the sound of her voice. He looked up at her and she smiled, her bright emerald eyes lighting up with mirth. “Mind if I join you?”
“….” He swirled the rum in his cup for a moment, debating before shrugging. “Go ahead.” She plopped into the seat next to his, folding her hands in her lap. She didn’t say anything, closing her eyes briefly. The wind was nice and she seemed to be enjoying it as it ruffled her long crimson hair gently. She reached up, brushing a strand behind her ear before looking at him.
“You look lost in thought,” she said brightly. He looked at her, raising an eyebrow at her. “I saw you from across the beach. Figured I’d offer a sympathetic ear, you know, if you want.” He simply looked at her and she giggled, shrugging. “Alright, I got it. You don’t want to talk.”
There was something familiar about the woman, but Darius couldn’t put his finger on it. He looked her up and down, his mouth forming into a concentrated frown. She looked at him, tilting her head.
“What? Do I got something on my face?” She asked, and Darius shook his head.
“Do I know you?” He asked. The woman tilted her head left, then right- a gesture that he had often seen Fell do when he was in thought. How strange, that he’d think that about the pretty young lady.
“Well, no,” she said after a moment. “Not in person, at least. But I feel like I know you very, very well, Inspector Darius Kinkaid.” Darius paused, gripping the glass tightly. She knew his name, but he had no idea who she was. She giggled, leaning back and looking at him. “It’s not what you think. Fell talks about you all the time, you know.”
“Does he now?” he drawled, relaxing ever so slightly. Even if this woman meant him harm, he doubted she’d be able to hurt him. It was obvious by the way she carried herself that she wasn’t a fighter. She hummed in affirmation.
“Yep. He complains about you alllllll the time.” she laughed. “He’s so gruff. He’s so hard to read. He’s a hardass. He’s a bad impression on Adele. He doesn’t know how to ask for help.” She lowered her voice in imitation of him, and Darius chuckled, a bit surprised at how well she mimicked the Elezen’s voice. She went quiet for a moment before speaking again. “But he’s really fond of you, you know? He talks about how worried he is about you all the time.” She glanced out at the ocean before looking back at him.
“He’s never going to live that down,” Darius stated, finishing off the rum. He poured himself another glass. The woman laughed again. She sure was a bubbly one, wasn’t she? He side glanced her as she began playing with the hem of her dress. “… How do you know Krieger?”
“Oh, we go way back,” she said. “His brother introduced the two of us when we were teens. It didn’t take very long for us to hit it off, you know?” She pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them. “…. We were married for a few years before the Calamity.”
“……” Darius placed his glass down, leaning forward slightly. “…. Adelaide.” Now that he was sure of who she was, she really did look familiar. Fell spoke about her all the time. It was like he had actually know the woman, before her untimely death.
“Nice to meet you, Darius,” she said, resting her chin on her knee and smiling. “You know, most people would be really, really shocked about meeting a dead lady.”
“It’s been a long few weeks,” he said, his eyes not leaving hers. She seemed so alive, so vibrant. Fell’s description of her really did her no justice. “I’ve seen a lot of thing you wouldn’t believe.”
“I don’t doubt that.” She played with a loose lock of her hair, tugging a daisy out of it. “Fell told me. He thought you were dead, but I knew you weren’t. I would’ve seen you, if you had.” She smiled. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“…. Adelaide, why are you here? Are you….”
“Don’t think too much on it, Inspector. You’ll blow a vein.” She stood, walking up to him. She stopped in front of him, folding her hands behind her back. Adelaide looked over him a moment before smiling. Darius couldn’t help but be reminded of Adele’s smile as she tilted her head, her eyes arching, just like the little girl’s.
“I don’t have very long,” she said, taking a step and holding out her hand. “Thank you, Darius.”
“…. For what?” He questioned, looking down at her hand. Would his faze through hers if he tried to shake it? She waited patiently for a moment before sighing softly reaching down and taking his hand in two of hers. Her hands were small, delicate, and war as she cradled his large, sword calloused ones.
“For taking care of Fell. For being there for him and Adele,” she said softly. “I don’t know if you noticed, but Fell’s a little… hard to approach sometimes.” He scoffed and she laughed at his response. “And especially now, after everything that’s happened…. True friends are hard to come by.” She smiled sadly. “There were a few people, but….”
“…. You’re welcome,” he said, looking up at her. She tilted her head, her smile brightening.
“I hate to ask you, but….. If you could keep looking after him, I would really appreciate it.”
“Only because you asked so nicely.” She laughed again.
“Oh, if we had longer, I feel like we’d be very good friends, Darius.” Adelaide looked at his hand before placing the daisy she had pulled out of her hair into his open palm. She closed his fingers over it before leaning in, kissing his forehead softly.
“…. May you walk in the light of the Crystal, my friend,” she said softly. He looked up at her, opening his mouth to respond-
“Darius! There you are!” Itara’s voice broke the almost tense silence. “Get back here! You need to be resting!” Darius turned his head to look at her before looking back at the now empty space before him. He blinked blearily. Did he imagine that? Was he more drunk than he thought….?
“Ita…” He said, looking at her as she neared him. She stopped next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“… What do you in your hand?” she asked, looking down at his hand. He blinked, looking down at his hand before opening it.
There sat a slightly squished daisy. His eyes widened in slightly shock before smirking slightly. He closed his hand again, chuckling softly.
“It’s nothing. Just a present from a friend.” He stood, looking at her. “Let’s head back. I’m starved.” He followed her back to the stone path, pausing ever so slightly when he heard a bright giggle and a voice whisper-
