literature

Sean and Eden

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Eden Fairchild was eating lunch with some of her other officers in one of the many cafes near the palace district of Ivester. sometime during the meal, a little commoner girl about no older than seven years of age walked up to their table. she was holding a note and presenting it to Eden.

"excuse me, miss," she started timidly, "but a man outside told me to give this to you..."

Eden looked towards the doors and windows of the cafe, but there was no one she could see that appeared to be looking towards them.

"thank you," Eden said as she took the note. the little girl quickly walked out leaving the cafe.

Eden looked the folded note over. it bore her name on one side with a dab of sealing wax on the folded edge, holding it closed. she broke the wax and unfolded it to read the following:

"Eden, you said that you would accept my challenge if I ever felt the need to do so. to that end, I call on it. meet me at the town square fountain at sundown. I will be alone.

Julian."

Eden let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world with it. she folded the note and tucked it into her belt pouch. Lunch didn't seem all that appetizing anymore.

-----------------------

when the sun set, Eden found herself heading towards the town square fountain. the place was completely deserted as all the people were indoors, either taking their evening meals or perhaps getting early sleep. there was a night-lighter roaming the area, lighting the wicks of all the street lamps. the golden flickering lanterns gave the streets an almost charming glow against the darkening cold blue of evening.
however, Eden was not there to enjoy the simple beauty that a city street had to offer at this time. she had a date with a young rogue who simply doesn't know when to stop causing himself trouble.

Eden turned the last corner out of a small side road and found herself facing the open area of the town square. the large circular fountain with its many streams of gushing water spouts babbled hypnotically in the evening silence. a lone figure was sitting on the fountain's wall, waiting.

Eden took a breath to steady herself. her hand subconsciously resting on the pommel of her sword. she never liked doing these stupid duels, but the people who asked for them simply refused to be placated otherwise.

she stepped purposefully towards the figure. the heels of her boots clicking on the cobblestones with an eerie echo. she saw the figure turn his head towards her and then stand up. as she got closer, she could make out the young man's features.

he was about seventeen by her guess. a rough looking young man with a harsh jaw line, intense hazel colored eyes and a mane of brown, unkempt hair that made him look wild and savage. as if that were not enough, there was a pale scar across his right cheek that added to the effect. a scar that she herself had cut into him.

"you continue to prove yourself a fool, Julian." Eden said with a little hostility, stopping five paces before him.

"and a lovely evening to you, miss Fairchild." Julian said raising a brow at her quizzically.

"as I recall, you said that you did not hold grudges." she said with a cold tone.

"well, I don't." he said rather calmly.

"so why are you acting like an idiot and calling me here?" Eden demanded, "I'll respect your wish for a duel, but we both know what the outcome will be. are you so blinded by your hate that you'll just throw yourself at any possible danger you can think up?"

"I... wouldn't say hate, exactly." he scratched the back of his head rather sheepishly, "look, I know our first encounters were rather... um... heated." he compromised in a lame effort to sugar coat it.

"Heated.  There's a word for it," she said with a snort. she looked around the square as if she were expecting someone else. "and as I expected, you failed to bring a second."

Julian cocked his head to one side, "I said I was going to be alone, didn't I?"

"then you are an even greater fool then I first thought, if you don't even know the rules of conduct for a duel!"

Julian rolled his eyes, "a proper duel involves a challenger and a challenged with each party naming a second in case of incapacitation or death, as well as to give a fair ruling over the outcome. the challenger may pick the weapons used in the duel, and the challenged is to name terms for a possible win." he raised an eyebrow, "did I miss anything?"

Eden had the decency to look mildly impressed.

the corner of Julian's mouth lifted slightly into a crooked grin, "I have done this before, you know. however," he unbuckled his utility belt and pulled it off his waist, holding it at arms length to his right, "I didn't call you here to actually fight." the belt dropped to the ground, the knives and saber echoing a metallic clatter throughout the square. "I just wanted to talk."

Eden looked to the belt then glared at him under-brow, "young man, you are playing a very dangerous game..."

Julian shrugged, "no games. no tricks. just a conversation between two people."

Eden raised her brow at him sceptically, "if that's all you wanted you could have easily made an official appointment."

"easily?" he snorted with a half chuckle, "I broke out of prison last month taking most of your prisoners with me. if I showed my face anywhere near a soldier, I'd be shackled faster then I could blink. I'm not that much of an idiot."

"clearly you are," she shot. she stepped forward drawing her blade and pointing it at his chest, "or have you forgotten that I too am a soldier?"

Julian's expression became dark and serious, "put that away, miss Fairchild."

"Major Fairchild." she didn't know why she was compelled to correct him on her proper title. she never cared to do so before, but this boy was simply infuriating!

Julian crossed his arms and turned away presenting his side to her, "I'm not interested in that side of you, Eden."

Eden was taken aback, her jaw dropping in disbelief, "what?"

Julian closed his eyes, "you asked me earlier if I wasn't intimidated by you. at the time, you have no idea just how scared I really was... it took every shred of courage I had to catch your eye, let alone face you." he inhaled and let it out, the breath a little shuddered, "I can't talk to Major Fairchild, because she is terrifying beyond what my wits can handle." he opened his eyes, but was still looking away. "I want the real Eden. not the persona behind her title."

Eden was unsure what to say to that. the tip of her blade lowered slightly without her full consent. she simply could not get a read on this strange young man.

Julian turned his head to glance at her. "put that persona away, miss Fairchild. please?"

she wasn't aware that her blade was still lowering until she felt the tip hit the cobblestones. her brows were furrowed in confusion. she looked at Julian, the young man had not moved an inch from his spot. but she could see that his arms were trembling with fear, despite being crossed over his chest. was she really that terrifying to him? her eyes fell to the utility belt by his feet. an act of faith that practically handed his life to her completely.

"who are you, really?" she asked in almost a whisper.

Julian shrugged, his head cocking to one side again, "if we can talk, you might find out. but I make no promises."

she thought for a moment, undecided. the quiet square suddenly felt loud in the momentary pause. the babbling fountain rhythmic against the constant chirping sound of crickets. there was a light breeze that made the street lamps flicker almost hypnotically.

Eden raised her sword, examining it. the golden lamp light gleamed off the silver blade making it look on fire. with a defeated sigh, she sheathed it. "alright."

Julian let out a breath he felt he was holding for far too long, "thank you." he uncrossed his arms locking his hands together and stretching them in front of himself, loosening the tention that was building up in his shoulders. he sat back down on the fountain wall, one foot on the wall raising his knee and the other hanging loosely over the side, his back leaning casually against one of the decorative marble statues. an eagle that spouted a stream of water out of its beak into the fountain's center. he motioned for her to have a seat.

Eden could almost admire the transformation he just performed. the tense posture he had standing just moments ago seemed to melt into a state of total relaxation the second he sat. granted it was a little vulgure, given their current circumstances, but still something to appreciate. she took a seat on the wall about a foot in front of him. sitting a little side-saddled to face him more directly. her hands relaxed on her lap, but clearly within a moment's reach to her blade.

"you are a strange one, Julian." she admitted.

Julian chuckled, "oh, I've been called far worse, trust me." his expression became serious for a moment. "I'm sorry for earlier, by the way... for throwing crap at you and saying what I did."

Eden looked at him before turning her eyes to the ground, "I should apologize, too."

Julian raised a hand, shaking his head objectively, "no, that was also my fault. I have a bad habit of bringing out the worst in people. good people especially."

Eden raised a brow at him, "good people, huh? so I'm no longer a cold-hearted bitch?"

Julian cringed, "that was about the biggest crock of shit I've ever had to lie through my teeth about!"

"I don't believe you," she snorted. "clearly you meant it at the time. what changed your mind?"

Julian looked thoughtful, he was tapping his fingers on his knee. "I got to meet you." he said simply.

"if our first encounter is your idea of a good first impression, Julian, I would hate to know who you have as friends..." Eden said, a hint of disgust in her voice.

Julian cocked his head with a  grin, "you'd be surprised."

his attitude angered her, "how can you be so calm about this? after what I did to you!? people have hated me for far less. yet here you are laughing at it as if it was no big deal!"

"I told you, I don't hold grudges."

"but it's not that simple! for god's sake, Julian. I-" he cut her off, "you did what you did because I baited you to."

Eden's expression blanked, completely at a loss. "why? what could you possibly have gained to do something so moronic?"

Julian's mouth twisting as if he wasn't sure weather he really wanted to answer that. he shook his head to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I wasn't lying when I told you that I didn't know about the war's true invocation." he started.

Eden glared heatedly at him. partly because he was riling her up. but mostly because she could not believe that he simply baited her in that cell... and she fell for it.

Julian sighed, not looking at her. he dug into his pocket and pulled out a tangerine, then started to work on peeling it as he spoke. "I'm sure you figured out by now that I'm part of the resistance that's been giving the Narestovian's a bit of hell."

"clearly," she growled through clenched teeth. her hand instinctively gripping her sword's hilt now.

he continued as if not hearing her. his thumbnail cutting into the soft outer peel of the fruit, making six neat little sections. "but I'm not an important part. just one of the guys that got dragged into it due to some unfortunate events. I'm pretty much a third wheel they can use as canon fodder. I might know one or two facts for sure, because I was unlucky enough to actually be there. but the rest is all just mumbled theories from other people."

he dug his thumb into the center of the top, breaking into the peel. the skin pulling apart easily with the grooves he made until it looked like he was holding a flower in his palm with the ball of tangerine wedges nested in the center. "I baited you with a half statement for two reasons. I wanted to confirm for a fact that the war was indeed per-involked. which, given your reaction, is now true." he split the ball in two, taking one half and offering her the other still nested in the flower-peel. "and I wanted to see who the real Eden was under that title."

the second statement threw her off. she wasn't sure if she should stay angry or otherwise be completely confused. why did this boy insist on contradicting everything he said by mixing subjects? regardless, she found herself... curious. she hesitantly raised her palm to accept the fruit. Julian slid the whole flower-peel into her hand to use as a plate.

"and... what did you see?" she found herself asking.

Julian had his half of the ball of wedges in a palm, single-handedly dislodging a wedge with his thumb before popping it into his mouth. he did this a few more times, bying a moment to choose his words. Eden did not eat her portion, but looked at him expectantly.

"I saw someone who had a hard life," he spoke softly. "someone who had to wear a mask to survive whatever hardships they were forced to endure. but also someone who has been wearing that mask for so long... it looked like they nearly forgot how it feels not to wear it."

Eden's heart suddenly skipped a beat... the emotional surge his description caused was nearly overwhelming. "how...." she choked, barely mouthing the word.

Julian looked to her sadly, "it takes one to know one, as they say... when you drew your blade on me in that cell. I didn't see Major Fairchild, the woman that people feared or respected because she was a cold-hearted bitch, or whatever else they say. I saw just Eden, a woman who does what she's forced to do because that's what needs to be done to survive."

Julian watched as Eden lost her composure, her face bearing a mix of confusion and vulnerability. but within an instant, that look was replaced with a mask as hard and cold as the rumors said. he was now looking at a face so furious, if he weren't seated, he was sure his knees would have buckled.

"we are done." Eden clipped out the words as if they were something vile. she stood up, the peel and fruit dropping to the ground from her hand. and she began to walk away at a march.

there was a scuffle followed by a ring of steel behind her, and Eden paused. she didn't need to turn to know that Julian had retrieved his things and drawn his saber.

"I'm not through talking," he said calmly.

"go back to your friends, Julian," Eden ordered, her back still turned to him, "there is nothing for you here but death."

"I can't," there was something in his tone, a sad desperation, "I can't let you leave until you hear me out."

Eden half turned to him, her mask as solid as ever, "and what can you possibly do to stop me, hmm? do you even have an inkling of what dangerous grounds you're treading on right now?"

"Eden, please..."

"DO NOT CALL ME THAT!" she shouted, her blade practically appearing out of nowhere. "who the hell do you think you are, young man? you have no right to address me by my name. you don't even know me!"

"I know you enough to not want you killed!" he shot back, "dammit, Eden, I'm trying to tell you that I don't want anymore people to die for this fucking war!"

"you lie!" she snarled, stepping forward with her words.

Julian did not so much as flinch, "I don't lie."

"you've killed, and you'll keep on killing. that's just the way of war. there is no stopping it until it's too late!" she was barely a couple paces from him now. her stance on the offensive.

"it's only too late when no one tries to stop it beforehand." Julian had taken a basic stance. one of the first forms taught to beginners. and though his form was unwavering and perfectly practiced, it was the shudder in his breath that belied his fear. they both knew that he was no match for Eden. she'd skin him alive barely breaking a sweat.

"you're mad." she growled.

Julian shook his head, "I'm not mad, I'm just tired."

"GO HOME, JULIAN!" she yelled as her sword swung at him.

the blades clashed with a metallic ring, sparks flying. Eden attacked aggressively with the intention of scaring him off. she stuck to basic forms, throwing her full strength behind each hit. Julian, for his part, was barely managing to parry her blows. his speed was compensating for his limited skill remarkably. but he was backing up on the defensive.

at one point, she disengaged him and stepped away, not even winded. Julian was already covered in perspiration, his breath coming in shuddering gulps.

"what do you want, Julian? what could you possibly need so desperately that you would do this to yourself?" she asked. "are you just that foolish? or do you simply enjoy being punished for it?"

"I want a treaty between us." he gasped, still catching his breath. "I want our sides to stop fighting... I'm tired, Eden. tired of fighting. tired of killing. tired of living every moment looking over my shoulder. it has to stop."

"you can't stop it." Eden said, a touch of sadness in her tone. "the war is too far gone. it hasn't run its course yet. you can't simply ask for it to stop. there's too much bad blood on both ends."

"then help me!" he pleaded, "I'm not asking for the impossible. I'm asking for a chance to try!"

"then you are asking too late!"

"why? why am I too late, Eden? tell me!" he pointed his blade at her, "you're always accusing me of having a grudge against you. but based on what your telling me, I think it's YOU who has a grudge."

"how dare you?" she said in total disgust, "HOW DARE YOU?" she lunged at him.

Julian barely managed to hold the blade across in time to intercept hers, locking at the guards. but the force of her attack was so fearce, he lost his footing and found himself sliding down to a kneeling position to not fall backwards. Eden now towered above him, her face twisted in anger, glaring down at him furiously over the cross of the blades. his heart was pounding deafeningly in his ears. he could feel his whole body tremble. it was all he could do to keep his hands steady to support the locked blades.

"how many soldiers have you killed, Julian?" her snarl was at a whispered level. "how many families have lost their loved ones under your blade? every life you took destroyed countless others that they have touched. those people will never see their fathers and sons, their mothers and daughters..."

"and what of our side, Eden? don't we have families attached to our people too?"

Eden's anger softened a bit. she stepped back a pace disengaging the blades. Julian stayed kneeling before her a moment. shaking his hands from the pain the blow had obviously caused him in his wrists. he stood up slowly, taking the first position again.

"last time, Julian. go home. go back to your friends. stop risking your life over a stupid fancy." she warned, "it's not worth it."

he shook his head, "I can't. not until you agree to the treaty."

"go, or I will kill you."

"no, you won't."

"why?" she asked almost pleading, "why are you doing this? can't you see I'm trying to spare you?"

"can't you see I'm doing the same?" he countered.

she laughed. a manic sound of disbelief, "spare me? from what!?"

Julian voice became hard and serious, "both our sides have targets to kill. yours are posted all over the city walls. ours are not." he nodded towards her, "you're the next on the list Eden."

"if you're trying to threaten me, you're doing a lousy job of it."

"it's no threat, Eden. it's a fact. the only reason the resistance hasn't come after you yet is because of me." this news took her by surprise. "killing is getting us nowhere. all we're doing is giving more reasons to kill or be killed. the cycle has to be broken, or we're all going to our graves. I begged them to give me one chance. one chance, Eden. to get you on our side and hear us out." he lowered his guard, the point of the saber almost touching the ground, "if I fail tonight... the cycle continues. but if you make this treaty with me, we might have a chance to stop this madness."

"why me?" she asked suddenly.

"pardon?"

"why me, Julian? why me and not one of the other ranks?" she demanded.

"alright, let me ask you one first. who do you know from our side?"

"I know many well enough."

he shook his head, "no, you know 'of' many. you don't actually know them personally. that's just it. both our sides have targets with names and a description. nothing more."

"that's-"

he cut her off continuing, "do you know what The Bear's favorite song is? do you know what the Mongrel likes to drink? what the Butcher prefers to wear? no. you don't know any of these things no more then I do about Avarice, Ares or Mathias. my people are just names to yours. and the opposite is true on our side, too. the only difference is that I got to see you for who you are... and who you are, is not our enemy."

he threw his saber away from him. the metal clattering as it skid on the cobblestones.

"you're insane." she said, almost frightened by his actions.

he stepped towards her purposefully, "maybe I am."

Eden backed up a pace, not sure what to do. her sword came to point at his chest, "don't!"

Julian backhanded the blade out of his way. Eden's left hand came up with a knife instantly out of reflex. Julian cringed in pain as he snatcher her fist into his palm. the knife cutting through the tendon between his first two fingers. Eden looked horrified.

"you are not my enemy, Eden." he repeated.

she shook her head slowly... almost uncomprehendingly. her sword hand was shaking. her instincts were screaming at her to hit him with the pommel... and yet... and yet...

before she could react, Julian slid his left hand around her neck and pulled her up to him. and his mouth met hers. the act was so tender, so sure... so surprising. it was such a simple little kiss. and yet she found she could not breathe...

almost too soon, he drew away. his hand now cradling the side of her face gently. he was looking right into her eyes. seeing her at her most vulnerable state. "I don't want you to die." he whispered.

Eden had no words. she was too lost mentally and emotionally. Julian pulled away from her, his right hand bleeding terribly from the knife cut.

"at least think about it..." he said looking away, "I'll contact you later for your decision."

Eden could only stare at him as he calmly went about collecting his saber then leaving the area. he nursed his injured hand tucking it under the opposite armpit. but otherwise looked normal as he walked away from her.

she can't really tell how long she stood there after he was gone. but at some point, she'd managed to put away her blades and started back towards... anywhere else... to think.

-----------------------

Sean walked some blocks away from the square, still nursing his hand. the bleeding had slowly come to a stop as he felt his hand stitch itself together. he was glad that her knife was not silver, at least. he turned a corner into an alley and just leaned his back against the wall, breathing. a moment later, he willed himself to release the illusion he was maintaining. in an instant, his face seemed to age, adding about twenty years. he let out a breath, and felt a gentle hand touch his shoulder. he turned to find a smallish young woman with ginger hair.

"hi, Paige." he said with a half smile.

she returned the smile then reached out for his injured hand.

Sean shook his head, "I'm fine. it wasn't silver. thank you for being here... just in case." he pushed away from the wall. "let's go... I need to talk with Donavon."

she nodded and followed beside him.
this was originally a fan-fic one-shot based on the crossover RP between Fallen-Sun, chewbaccazm and myself... we introduced our characters in a not-so-nice scenario, but I could not get it out of my head to ship Sean and Eden as a couple... and oh man do I ship these two. I ship them so gosh darn hard, my art table is a freaken docking bay for this shipping!!!

but I wasn't sure if making this canon was even gonna be possible... so to make my little inner fangirl happy, I wrote this... which both my RP mates liked and ended up becoming canon in he end.

my inner fangirl was squeeing into a puddle of goo when that happened!!! :la::love::woohoo::dummy:

Tell Me by Wazaga The Dorm Scene - part 1 by Wazaga The Dorm Scene - part 2 by Wazaga

Eden and Paige (c) Fallen-Sun
Sean/Julian (c) me
© 2014 - 2024 Wazaga
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