Accedo

Title: Accedo
Trivia: Accedo is Latin for 'to approach'
Author: Silent Afterglow

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII-2
Character: Caius Ballad, Lightning, Achillea Magus
Achillea is my OC.

Warning: Major. I repeat. MAJOR. Major Caius/OC.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. THIS WORK IS SOLELY BASED FOR FUN PURPOSE ONLY AND I DO NOT ALLOW ANY REPOSTING OUTSIDE THIS BLOG. THE ORIGINAL IDEA IS BASED ON "DISTORT" FANFICTION ON FANFICTION.NET, A STORY OF FINAL FANTASY XIII-2.

 In the fire I rest, and then I rise. I am the Eternal.

Accedo (c) Silent Afterglow 2012

 

This clash is the worst, if anything else matters. Achillea, drained away from energy to cast another spell, fell in silence when the purple haired man, namely Caius Ballad, approached her. "Don't move!" Achillea yelled as she gathered her left strength and shot a Thundaga spell at the young man, which he simply diminish with his massive sword, the Ragnarok. Damn, Achillea cursed as she saw the spell she shot earlier vanished into thin air like it's no more than an ordinary Thunder, and she gritted her teeth, braced herself to accept her bitter fate. Lightning, crystallized, could do nothing and leave this young mage as the sole protector of Etro's Throne, but she failed to uphold her duty. Bitter as it may be, but it is the truth. 

 

She squeezed her eyes as his footsteps drew closer. The death is as close as she is to drawing her breath, and as she heard the clinking sound of metal, she readied herself to go after Etro, her maiden, in the afterlife. But instead of feeling the sharp metal ripping through her flesh, she felt that a pair of arms encased her and then hooked her up. And there's the only one that is capable of doing it. She detests this man to her bone, but with her condition, she knew it's no good to oppose such strong arms.

 

Achillea groaned when her teal eyes met with the amethyst ones of Caius, but as usual, they are the house of fleeting emotions, making it almost impossible to read it. And for Etro's sake, why would he carry her in a bridal-style fashion? She felt her head on his right chest, and then as Caius walked away from their site of battle, Achillea winced from the reopened wounds that were previously healed with showering her wounds with her stocked Potion, and the pain snapped her unconscious. The last thing she remembered before she collapsed that her head snapped a little before it leaned against Caius' chest.

 

When the young mage came to, the first thing she realized was the fluffy pillow that lies beneath her head, scarred and marred. She felt heavy all over her body and then realized that somebody had tended her wounds, knowing full well the one doing that. She then opened her eyes, but the surroundings were dim, and there's less than a glint of light from the dying torch at the wall. As the pain returned, Achillea winced and squeezed her eyes in hope to ease the pain surging over her whole body.

 

And then it's when she sensed the ominous presence entered her room, and she breathed heavily. This is the last thing she wished to happen.

 

~0~0~0~0~

 

Caius quietly took his steps at Achillea's room, his Ragnarok absent, away from his grip. He had hoped to bring this young mage for a better place and treatment, but this is the only thing he could do for her. Caius then approached the bed where he laid Achillea's body, and he sat on the edge of the bed. Quietly he gazed upon the sleeping young woman, and out of his consciousness, he combed her ebony strands with his fingers. Repeating the same gesture, Caius silently gazed upon Achillea, before his fingers traced the shape of her face, his fingers touching her cheek. Achillea inhaled deeply before she exhaled heavily.

 

Not the one good with words, Caius touched her forehead and shook his head. She is still under fever, perhaps due to the infection at her wounds, but it's on the lesser degree than last he checked on her. Caius silently hoped that his mute actions would reach the younger lady, hoped that his silent repertoire would lit Achillea's heart.

 

~0~0~0~0~

     

Achillea felt her consciousness resurfaced, but the first thing she realized that somebody's fingers are touching her forehead, and she felt Caius's presence. But strangely, she cannot sense the venomous aura he emitted everytime they clashed, or the chaotic breath of his, and instead all of his actions were emitting a pure, almost hallowed light as he stroke her head. Achillea tried so hard to stay still, but all of his actions forced her to succumb. The female mage began to wonder, is this the side of Caius's humanity, one he had never shown, frosted by his icy exterior, darkened by his desire to eliminate Etro?

 

Her question remained unanswered as she felt the pair of the ever strong arms curled around her neck, hooked it and before she can comprehend, she felt the warm lips of Caius on hers.

Mute does not mean uncaring, silent does not mean one is emotionless.