The Third Power: TTS AU

Chapter Ten

Cassandra played with her hands nervously as she stood just outside of her throne room. She knew Varian was awake - she could hear him mumbling to himself. Probably something about alchemy or that text on the Demanitus Scroll.

She just had to talk to him. How hard could it be? Just... just a proper apology for the other day.

Swallowing the steadily growing lump in her throat, Cassandra stepped around the corner and into the throne room, approaching the alchemist.

"V-Varian?" she called softly.

She hesitated when he didn't respond. Should she try again or...?

Cass took a breath and continued her approach. She tapped Varian on the shoulder.

"Varian?" She called a little louder this time.

Varian jumped at the sound and touch and spun around.

"O-Oh, er, Cassandra," he said quietly with surprise. "What's up? How-How are you?"

Cassandra looked into his visibly uncomfortable face then quickly averted her gaze and looked out of the window.

"I'm... I'm alright."

It was quiet for a moment. A very long, uncomfortable moment.

"S-So did you... d-did you need something?" Varian, eventually, asked.

Cassandra turned away from him for a moment. She gripped her arms as her whole body tensed and she found it a little harder to breath. Why was this suddenly so difficult?!

"Cassandra?" the alchemist called quietly to her. The concern was all too evident in his voice, though he couldn't explain why. She'd kidnapped him, drugged him with his own truth serum! Why did he care?

Cassandra turned back around to face the boy. She forced the tears to not fall as she sat down next to Varian on his rock bed.

Varian, immediately on edge, tried to move away, but was stopped by a gentle hand on his shoulder.

He looked at the warrior sat next to him. Her eyes seemed... conflicted? He wasn't sure if that was right but it was the best thing he could describe it as.

Then his own eyes filled with shock as Cassandra pulled him to her and into a hug.

"Varian," she said quietly into his shoulder. "I am so sorry."

Varian had no idea what to say.

"I'm sorry for the other day when I almost killed you. I'm sorry for kidnapping you. I-I'm sorry for-"

"N-No, it's ok," he told her as he returned her embrace. "It's... it's ok, Cass. I... I know you didn't mean to stab me."

Oh yeah. He cared because Cass was his friend.

The two were quiet as they continued to hug. They held each other for a long time, eventually letting go.

"If you don't mind me asking," Varian said when the hug ended. "Where's all this coming from?"

Cassandra was silent for a minute.

"I... I don't know," she admitted. "It's just that I... I never intended to take things this far. The kidnapping wasn't supposed to happen but you destroyed the translation key. I didn't intend to stab you but... but I timed my movements so badly and... yeah."

Varian leaned back on the bed then chuckled softly as he started to think.

"Well," he said. "I guess this makes up for me almost crushing you with my automaton?"