Midoku blinked.
Then blinked again.
In fact, he blinked several times at the sight before him. There was Stephan, purposefully making a public spectacle out of himself. The same man who could barely stand two or three people talking to him at once.
...what in the world is he doing? Midoku wondered. He was about to get the answer, as Stephan coughed and started to speak.
"Ten years ago, I didn't care about anyone or anything, other than myself. I was pissed at my family, at the Gods, at the world, even at life itself. And..."
He turned, looking and meeting the blue mage's gaze.
"...then I met someone else who was pissed at the world. Who, like me, had seen the worst sh#$ that life had to offer. I remember thinking how weak the bloke was then, how he'd always give into the things I said, afraid of the results if he dared say his own bloody opinion. I also remember him thinking of himself as a monster, just because he looked differently from 'normal' people. But over the years, I've seen him become much more than that. He knows that he's just as important as any other bastard in the world, and that he shouldn't be afraid to speak his mind. And he knows that no matter what he looks like or what people think of it, he never has or ever wil be a godsdamn monster.
And because of him... I've changed as well. When my anger blinded my logic, he was there to shove it right back in my face. For every reason I had to despise every f#$king about life, he could fine one reason not to. If it wasn't for him, I never would have stopped hating everything. I never would have confronted and made peace with my family. I would have..."
Stephan stopped a second, the people closest to the stage hearing the faintest of a 'sniffle' coming from his nose.
"...I would have been the monster he always feared he truly was."
Stephan coughed, reaching into his pocket and quickly skimming over the crumpled paper from earlier, before replacing it in his pocket.
"When I was a child, my father died defending our home in Baron. There was a song my mother would sing to herself, nonstop, day in and day out after he died. I hated her for a long time, and the bloody song as well. I couldn't understand how the f#@k she sang it for so damn long, as if to ignore how angry and sad I felt, as if her pain were much worse than mine."
Stephan stopped again, once again another, slightly more audible "sniffle" sneaking out as he thought of what had almost happened to the one he loved.
"But recently, I nearly had the same sh#$ happen to me. I thought the one person who meant more to me than anything in the world... had been taken away from me. It felt like I was hollow inside, as if nothing f#@king mattered anymore. I had nothing left to care about.
And now I realize... that's how my mother must have felt all those years ago. Losing someone you gave your heart and soul to for so long, only to have them gone. I thought she didn't care about me anymore... but now... I know she was too hurt without my father to see anything else, just like I was without my love.
When he was gone, the only thing I could think of, was the one thing I could never seem to do for him. All he ever wanted me to do, was something I thought I couldn't. Because a 'real man' doesn't talk about things like caring about someone or sh#$ like that. All he asked, was that I have courage to tell him anywhere, anytime I wanted to, that I loved him."
Stephan nodded to Max, and the mysterious musician began to play. It was a soft, almost ethereal melody, like someone thinking of times long past.
"Midoku... you mean the world to me. And it's about f#$king time I had the balls to show you, no matter what. If anyone thinks less of me for doing this, they can kiss my bloody ass."
Stephan's mouth corners began to rise, as a face he was once only willing to express in private was there for public viewing, as he smiled to the blue mage.
This song is for you, love."
As Stephan took a step back, taking a deep breath, he recalled the times of his childhood for a moment. In her younger days, his mother had been one of the better singers at their town's church. Often she tried to teach him and Daniel the finer points of said vocal ability... usually with ear piercing results. If there was ever a time for any kind of latent musical ablity to come forth, it was definitely now. He opened his mouth and began to do something he never thought he'd ever do.
He began to sing.
I'm so tired of being here...
Without the one I... hold so dear...
And then he went away... gone from my sweet embrace...
Yet his memory lingers here... and it won't leave me alone...
These wounds won't seem to heal... this pain is just too real...
There's just too much that time... cannot erase...
When you cried I'd... wipe away all of your tears...
When you screamed I'd... fight away all of your fears...
And I've held your... hand though all of these years...
But you still... have...
...all of me...
Max continued to play his entrancing melody, as Stephan paused and got ready for the rest of the song. Midoku sat in complete amazement... wondering if he was really seeing and hearing this, or if it was simply a dream...
(Song borrowed/edited from
Evanescence: My Immortal. (need real player) because its that damn good ={ )
Edited by: FF Fanatic 80 at: 3/11/04 9:27 am