Tragedy Sky - 5

Chapter 5

Olimar's Log 4

It's been two weeks. He hasn't spoken to me, or really glanced my way in two weeks. It's not my fault, I know I didn't do anything wrong, and maybe the time was good for me. It's got me thinking about things more.
Millie has been a nightmare though. Every time I enter the room she demands to see Meta Knight. I took her helmet off yesterday, so there's not anything to muffle her screaming anymore. Despite my constant headache, it's been worth it to bond with her. She started calling me "daddy" a few days ago, which I was more than ecstatic about. The first time she said it I caught myself running to tell Meta Knight. It's eating me up inside. What can I do now?
Some of the children have taken to playing with her. I don't mind it, but I really hope they'd be more careful. She doesn't have any fighting skills like they do, so I think they sometimes forget that she can't withstand a hit. Which reminds me...
I wonder if I should teach her. Not now, of course, but perhaps in a few years, when she's big enough to throw a Pikmin. I don't know if I want her to be a fighter or not. It might be useful for her to learn, just in case, but I don't want to push her towards the life everyone else here lives, if I can help it. We shouldn't stay here forever. I'll have to move somewhere, but nearby, so I can still see my friends.
Ah, you never know what the future holds. It seems like no matter how hard I try, all of my thoughts come back to Meta Knight. Would he want to come with me if I moved?
A few months ago it would've sounded ridiculous, but now...I feel like I couldn't live without him. I know he feels it too.
Or maybe it's just wishful thinking..

---

"Mario!"
Said plumber looked up from the paper he was reading at the sound of his name and spotted Olimar standing in the doorway.
"I need to talk to you," Olimar blurted out.
Mario seemed about to ask what exactly he wanted, but the urgency in his tone told him it was best to wait. He nodded quickly and motioned for Olimar to come in. Olimar did so, closing the door to the study behind him.
Quietly, he made his way over to Mario and took a seat on the armchair across from him as the plumber folded the edge of the page he was on and closed the book. Olimar visibly cringed at the bad habit.
Mario placed his hands in his lap and waited. They sat in silence a minute as Olimar stared around the room. He hadn't been to the study in ages, not since their first tournament. Back then he'd been interested in every piece of knowledge the earthlings had to offer; he read mountains of books and papers, fascinated at their customs and history. He learned English in a week and a half, not because he was ultra-smart or anything, but because of his never-ending curiosity. It still took him a couple more months to understand their slang and figures of speech. Luckily he was no stranger to sarcasm.
Mario cleared his throat expectantly.
Olimar jumped a bit, then managed to find his voice.
"I came to talk to you about Meta Knight.."
The surprise on his face made him almost change his mind, but he pressed on.
"As I'm sure you've noticed, he and I have gotten very close.."
"Yes, he's gotten close with your little girl as well. I think it's nice to see him connect with someone," Mario commented.
"He's become almost like a second parent to her," Olimar agreed. "But that's not what I came to talk to you about..."
Mario cocked an eyebrow.
"Then what is it?"
Olimar took a deep breath.
"A couple weeks ago we had a little fight...well it wasn't exactly a fight, more of a talk, and...I asked him how he felt about me." Olimar's face turned a little red.
Mario's expression was unreadable. He leaned forward in his chair a bit.
"And..?"
"He said he didn't know how he should feel. And I don't know how to take that."
"Well how do you feel about him?"
"I...I never thought about it."
"It's probably a good idea to get that sorted out as soon as you can. He deserves to know."
Olimar nodded slowly. Guilt gnawed at his belly, but he pushed it down.
"T-thanks. These last two weeks have been hard."
"He hasn't talked to you since then? That's not good. You'd better figure this out fast, or your friendship-or whatever it is-could be in danger. Is he mad?"
"I don't know. I think he's just anxious," he replied. "I didn't exactly give him an answer either. He didn't give me the chance."
Mario patted him on the shoulder.
"He will, when you're ready."
Olimar nodded, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders. Talking to Mario always made him feel better.
"Thank you," he said. Mario smiled faintly.
"No problem."
Olimar smiled back as Mario pulled him in for a big hug.
"And don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

---

The next day was filled with people talking and shouting and debating and challenging others to matches.
Olimar tried to ignore the fuss, but he heard his name mentioned in a few conversations, so he had to ask. He walked over to King Dedede, who seemed to be the only one not interested in the chatter, and tugged on his robe.
"Hey, what's all the excitement about?" he wondered, staring up at the blue penguin. The king, apparently trying to seem aloof, didn't look at him, and simply replied, "Tournament."
Olimar growled under his breath.
"I kinda guessed that. What's so special about this one?"
Dedede shrugged.
"They're cutting fighters, nerfing abilities, adding arenas."
"C-cutting?"
"You know, removing people from the list?"
"Oh."
Olimar turned to face forward, where a large group of Brawlers had gathered around a sheet of paper taped to the wall. He remembered when he first arrived at the mansion. He saw a handful of fighters leave the next day with suitcases. Guess they hadn't made the cut that time around. A small chill of fear passed through him as he realized that he could get kicked out too, until the king spoke up again.
"I wouldn't worry. Even if you don't get a slot, Mario would never kick you out. You've got a kid, and another on the way..."
Olimar looked up, confused, and the penguin poked his belly playfully.
"Hey!" he protested. "I'm only a little chubby!"
Dedede chuckled.
"Yeah, you'd think with all the fighting you do you'd lose some weight. At least I have an excuse, I'm a penguin!"
Olimar glowered at him until the king ruffled his hair and laughed heartily.
"I'm just pickin' on ya."
"Olimar!" Falco called. "Come here!"
The little alien skipped and scurried over to the crowd, only to be scooped up by Bowser and set on his shoulders. Fox, who stood directly in front of the paper, pointed at the text.
"Looks like you've made it to the next round! And it says here you can only use three Pikmin this time! Guess you'll have to step up your game!"
Olimar groaned. "Why would they do that?"
"To even the playing field," Bowser replied from below. "You were in the high teir for the last tournaments, it's only fair."
"Wait, wait, there's more," Fox said. "It says here you'll have a new recovery move...wait, that can't be right...flying Pikmin?"
"Do those even exist?" Nana wondered.
Olimar nodded.
"Yeah. I discovered two new types of Pikmin a while back before I was captured by that beast..I thought I mentioned it..? Flying and rock Pikmin. I suppose it'll be more useful than the 'ol Pikmin chain."
Bowser set him down. As he began walking towards the kitchen he heard a high-pitched squeal from behind him. He turned to see Peach bouncing in place as she pointed at the paper.
"It says Mega Man is joining us! Oh, I can't wait!"
The crowd tightened again, everyone now excited about the new player. He remembered hearing the name before but...
"He's infamous. Almost as famous as Mario himself."
Olimar nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled around.
"Meta Knight!"
Relief and joy overcame him, and the leapt forward and threw his arms around the warrior, squeezing tightly. Meta Knight awkwardly returned the hug.
"Sorry I haven't been around..." he started. "I've been...thinking..."
Olimar nodded.
"Me too."
A moment of silence passed as the two watched their housemates fight to get a look at the paper.
"We should talk," Meta Knight began.
"Now?"
"Why not?"
Olimar swallowed the lump in his throat. He definitely didn't think they'd be speaking so soon. He still hadn't worked out everything he wanted to say. But he knew he should take the opportunity while it still stood.
"Alright," he agreed reluctantly. To his surprise, Meta Knight took his hand and led him down the hall. He paused at the nursery, staring in at Millie who slept soundly in her crib. Then he turned to him, the seriousness in his eyes making Olimar reel back a bit.
"I don't care what happens, I've become a part of her life, and she of mine. I've decided that no matter what happens to you, or me, or us, I'll never leave her. Are you willing to accept that?"
The gravity of what he said made Olimar's legs a little shaky. He nodded once before the warrior dragged him into Olimar's room and closed the door.
Olimar stood rigid, watching. What was the knight planning?
"What's all this about? Is something wrong? I always assumed you'd care for Millie but.."
"I don't know if I'll be staying here."
"What?"
Olimar's eyes widened.
"Are you leaving?"
"I hope not," Meta Knight replied tightly. He removed his mask and set in on the bed before speaking again.
"My name isn't on the list. And I know it's incomplete, but just in case...I just want you to know I'd never go far."
The Hocotatian relaxed a bit.
"But you're the best fighter! Why would they cut you out?"
"I don't know."
"So is all this in a fit of panic? Is that the only reason you're talking to me?"
Olimar sounded almost hysterical, but he didn't care. He wanted answers.
"I didn't talk to you because I needed some time. And now I'm talking to you because..I may not have any more time. So I wanted to let you know..."
The warrior shifted uncomfortably.
"Is that it? That's all this is about?" Olimar demanded.
"No," Meta Knight sighed. "It isn't. I..it's about what you said last time we talked. And what I said."
Olimar felt anxiety well up inside him. He hopped up on the bed, hoping it would help him steady himself. Meta Knight hesitated, looking off to the side somewhere, not even completely facing him. It was clear he was nervous too.
"I do love you," he said. It sounded like a sigh of relief, like he was glad to finally say it. And why wouldn't he be?
Olimar's heart skipped a beat. He'd gotten the answer he'd both dreaded and secretly wished for. Within seconds his head was filled with a multitude of questions. What did this mean for them? What would the others think?
As weighty as these concerns seemed, he still felt excited about it all.
"I knew it," was all he said. He could feel silver eyes on him as he stared down at his hands, considering his options with this new knowledge. Finally the knight spoke up again.
"And you?"
"What?"
"What do you think of me?"
Meta Knight's cheeks were a little darker, but his gaze didn't waver.
Olimar stared at him, not a single thought running through his head, just taking in the rare image of the knight's face. He felt nervous all of a sudden. Once he said it, there was no going back.
The wait only made it more difficult for him to speak, but he managed to find his voice.
"I love you too."
He was sure of it as soon as he saw him that day, but he wasn't just admitting it to Meta Knight, he was admitting it to himself. He felt a little dizzy; thankfully he wasn't standing. A smile spread on Meta Knight's face, a warm, genuine smile. Olimar couldn't help but smile too.
"This is weird for me. I thought..I thought I'd never find anyone else but...you..you're special," Olimar confessed, hoping whatever he just said didn't sound stupid.
Meta Knight chuckled.
"I'm glad I can make you happy again."
Olimar hopped off the bed, feeling lighter than before, and hugged Meta Knight.
"Thank you."

---

Olimar's Log 5

There's no words for it. I feel so..free. Whatever feelings I may still hold for my wife, they don't seem to matter when he's around. Is that cruel? I haven't forgotten her, but I've let go of her. Is that what I'm supposed to do? I still feel guilty, just not in the same way I used to. The guilt doesn't get in the way. Should it? Am I letting go too easily? Too soon?
No matter what I do, it hasn't stopped me from loving him.
And I want it to, but I also don't want it to.
Does that make any sense?