Catarina (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} catdevigri) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} no_true_pair,@ 2010-08-10 13:16:00 |
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Title: Small Sacrifices
Author:
catdevigriFandom: Tales of Rebirth
Pairing/characters: Eugene Gallardo & Mao
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word count: 595
Prompt/challenge you're answering: Eugene and Mao, with the title "Small Sacrifices"
Was it hard for a boy to be constantly on the move like this? Eugene thought about his own childhood. He hadn't traveled around like this. He had been born and raised in Balka, a cheerful child of the capital. What were the benefits of staying put? He ticked them off, unfolding his fingers one at a time: stability and routine, a chance to make long-lasting friendships, getting to know and have a relationship with your neighbors... There were probably other things too, that he didn't realize or couldn't think of. As hard as he tried to be a proper father to Mao, the more Mao grew, the more Eugene felt his efforts were insufficient. Mao was a good boy. He was optimistic and brave and knew right from wrong, but he was... Well, it wasn't what Mao was. It was what he wasn't. He wasn't like the other kids his age.
In the past, neither of them had been aware of this difference. Eugene wasn't even sure if Mao was aware of it now. It was cruel to force him to make a sacrifice he didn't even realize he was making.
Mao was leading the way as they heading down the meandering road to the sea. He skipped along merrily, arms swinging wildly at his sides. He looked like he didn't have a care in the world. After all that he had been through, perhaps it was a blessing that this child could stay a child.
"Mao," he easily increased his pace to fall into step beside the boy, "Are you happy living like this?" From the quizzical look on his face, he got the impression that Mao was unaware of what he was getting at. More specifics would be necessary. "Never settling down, I mean. Being on the road all the time. Not having any real home."
"A home...? You mean like Claire and Veigue have? Or Tytree and his big sis?" Mao's red eyes darted up and to the side as he checked inside his mind to look over his thoughts on the matter. It was an endearing tick of his. "Hmm." Satisfied that he had sufficiently reviewed all his thoughts on the matter, Mao looked up into Eugene's bright eyes and gave his answer, "That's a trick question, Eugene! You're faking me out!"
"Wh-what?" He was being completely sincere. What was giving Mao such a bizarre idea? "Mao," he waved his hands at his young friend, palms open to indicate his lack of ill intentions, "I mean what I'm saying! I've been worried that I'm doing you a disservice by continuing to wander around the continents. You're not able to have the normal sort of life a young man deserves... I feel like I-"
"Stop," Mao cut him short. He held up one finger, as if he would place it to Eugene's lips, could he efficiently reach them. "Let me finish my answer to your question first. I do have a home, Eugene. It's anywhere I go, as long as I'm with you."
After that, was there really anything else Eugene could say? They had both stopped now and were standing dumbly in the middle of the road. "You don't feel it's a...a sacrifice?"
"A sacrifice? No way! Why would I think that? What else could I ever want?" He jumped up and threw his arms around Eugene's neck, hanging like ragged little necktie from his armor. When Mao put it like that, there was no possibility of protesting. He couldn't say no to the boy. After all, this was love.