lobsterbox | time stop

Mithos kept his eyes forward as the Rheaird sped over Gaoracchia Forest. He was situated behind Genis, who was piloting the single craft, and somewhere behind them...was Lloyd, who had trailed them on their entire trip to the Fooji Mountains. Naturally, Mithos had sensed him. He wasn't certain if Genis had figured it out, but he supposed it had worked out in a way—he hadn't needed to use any of his own powers to help them ascend the mountain, and so they had obtained the Fandalia flowers without arousing any suspicion.

And Genis had agreed to stand by him, anyway. It was only natural. Lloyd may have accepted him for now, but he was still only human. He was still different.

Well, once his Age of Lifeless Beings was realized, they would all be the same. But for now...Mithos was already the same as Genis, and half-elves could only exist amongst each other.

"There's the house," he piped up over Genis' shoulder, his gentle voice betraying none of his sinister thoughts. Sure enough, they were almost directly upon the rock face where Altessa lived, and Genis brought the Rheaird into a quick descent, so that they soon landed in front of the dwarf's home. Surprisingly, all but Lloyd's Rheaird were now there—meaning the others had returned earlier than he expected. Mithos' angelic senses easily picked up words from inside the house, but...they caused him to narrow his eyes.

"Lloyd was supposed to be-"

"I can't believe this..."

"What are we going to tell the kid?"

Mithos held tight to the flowers they had gathered as they hopped off of the craft, and he gave Genis an encouraging smile tinged with worry. "Let's hurry in. Even if they found a doctor, they should still be able to use these flowers..."

He said that, but he was beginning to suspect that the doctor plan hadn't worked out in the least. Most likely, any high-profile doctor that the group thought of wouldn't waste their time treating a half-elf.

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And Genis went along without complaint, stepping to Mithos's side. Even though he was smiling, Genis didn't feel any better. If anything, moving ahead like this made him more worried. If he lost his emotions...

His fingers curled around Mithos's hand again.

"...okay. I trust you."

Maybe it would be better that way.

"Genis..." A touch of friendliness returned to his eyes, his smile a bit more genuine. Yes, that was how things were supposed to be...and as long as Genis trusted him, he would trust in Mithos' ideas as well.

Still...

The fact that Genis had doubts at all continued to nag at the edges of his mind. Perhaps the transformation would help him see more clearly, though.

As they walked towards the room Genis had been using, he wondered aloud, "Are you still afraid?"

Genis turned his eyes to Mithos again, a little hope that things would be better creeping up. As long as they were friends, as long as Mithos didn't hate him, things wouldn't be so bad. Friends forever, as long as he stood at Mithos's side.

Nevertheless, he didn't feel like he had to lie about this.

"...It's not like I need to be," Genis answered slowly, sorting through his feelings himself. "But I can't help it. When Colette became an angel, she went through so much pain. Even if it won't be the same for me, I can't help but think of that."

He listened, glancing back as he considered the response, and nodded slowly. "You understand, but you can't help it... Fear isn't stopped by logic, after all."

That was why fear itself had to be removed from everyone in order to create the world they wanted.

"Even so," he added with a reassuring look, "just try to keep thinking about the results the transformation will bring you."

They came to a stop in Genis' room, and Mithos turned to face Genis. He held up his free hand, revealing the shimmering Cruxis Crystal--he'd had it on him all along, as it was too valuable to leave lying around.

Living forever, with his friend and their sisters. He'd have power and skills he'd never be capable of on his own, but it was those bonds that meant everything to him. More than anything.

Though just thinking that did nothing to ease the weight on Genis's chest, he tried to force himself to think more logically, to drive away his fears. In the end, he nodded, meeting Mithos's gaze steadily with his own. He still wasn't sure, but...

...seeing the stone glinting in the silver light of the room, seeing the future right in front of him, he was even less sure. Genis stared at the Crystal with wide eyes. He could nearly see the energy inside of it with the way the light danced through the stone. If he wore that, he...

He wouldn't lose anything, and he wouldn't really be hurt. Ultimately, he'd be able to see his sister again, and he and Mithos would never be alone.

Genis tore his eyes away to look at Mithos once more.

"Is that- Is that really for me?"

A short snicker accompanied Mithos' smirk in reply. "Heh...of course it is. It's not just for showing off."

His smirk faded, his voice serious again. "Remember what I said before, Genis? I decided you were worthy to have this."

He kept his hand outstretched, the crystal offered for Genis to take...should he want to. Mithos considered him closely as he quietly continued, "I was right, wasn't I?"

Genis understood what Mithos was asking, and it was no light question. After all, ha had given Mithos so many doubts... He had every reason to be concerned.

So...he wasn't hurt by the question. He knew why Mithos asked that. Genis shook his head dismissively as he reached to take the crystal from his friend's hand, squeezing the other one gently.

"I trust you, and you trust me too, right?"

If he wanted to stay on this path, he had to keep his faith and resolve unwavering. No matter what might happen.

As his fingers wrapped around the stone, he couldn't even think of how it felt against his skin. His heart was still pounding under the anxiety he was fighting to keep buried.

"I'm going to stick by you forever."

For their sisters, for their friendship.

time stop

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