Chapter Text
The cold Tertium is becoming unbearable, even Tataru’s best efforts in her craft are not enough to keep your fingers from freezing. Ceruleum’s reserves are low once again, and soon enough you would have to go out and try fetching some more before someone else succumbs to that cold and deadly embrace.
While waiting for Jullus to escort you outside, you keep all the attention on the twins Alisaie and Alphinaud, who are doing the best they can to keep the residents of the fallen Garlemald from simply suffering a terrible fate.
“These stupid chokers” — you say to yourself, as the anxiety increases inside your body— “We were going to help these people no matter what”
Your eyes keep following the twins everywhere, focusing on those chokers while slowly losing track of what’s happening around you. Seems like despair is going to get the best of you until a firm hand touches your shoulder and snaps you out of it.
“Let’s go” —He says, keeping his gaze away from you— “We have work to do”
He caught you off guard, and you immediately look behind to find him already going for Tertium’s exit, just a couple of steps ahead. You follow him outside, trying to hide a little hint of redness that invaded your cheeks when he surprised you just now.
“What am I doing, this is not the place or time to think of him like that ” —You keep repeating in your head, as both of you approach the cold and snowy landscape of Gardemald— “As he said, we have work to do. So I better get my mind to it”
He stops right at the exit and turns around to see if you are following. His face looks as serious as per usual. As he looks back to the distance to give orders, you start to think how badly you want to help him, to help his people, as well as you want to prove to him that you are a good person, that you are good for the people of Garlemald… that you are good for
him
.
“We need to go closer to the north gate and retrieve all the ceruleum we can from the machina in that area” —He points in the direction you’ll be going, as his expression changes to a sadder one. You follow his finger with your eyes just to find the remains of a big metropolis in the distance— “Once we are there, I will leave you to it. I will stay close if you need me… but I don’t think you will. Just follow my lead.”
Jullus doesn’t keep his gaze away from the city ruins, he seems too focused on whatever might be there to even look at you. Maybe you could say something to bring the tension down a bit before he starts walking ahead once again.
“Don’t worry Jullus, I will keep you safe” —You say as you place your hand on his shoulder, as friendly as you could be, just like he did to you earlier—
He flinches and turns his upper body to look at you, he doesn’t seem angry but you swear that pale face of his just turned bright red in a matter of seconds. You don’t say anything else for fear to make it worse, but he doesn't seem like he has any words forming in his mouth either.
The seconds start feeling like hours and the tension between you two keeps getting stronger. It feels like you lost the power to move your hand, but it does not seem like he really can move from where he stands.
His eyes navigate every single corner of your face in disbelief. You don’t know if keeping your friendly smile is the best tactic here, since you can already feel the awkwardness in the air with every pore in your skin. But you want to assure him that you are, in fact, friendly and here for him. So, what can you do?
He finally scoffs, turns around, and begins walking as he raises his hand to indicate you to follow him. You need to take a couple of seconds to process what just happened. A simple gesture planned to relieve some stress ended up causing double damage.
At least that’s what you think.