Final Fantasy XIV- A Dream Untold: Hitocillia's Story.

The Promise.

A voice. Another voice. It was different than the others. It awoke her from her slumber. Hitocillia was sure she recognized the source which brought her some solace from that nightmare. Once her eyes refocused, she saw the coiled smile looking down at her.

"Hito," the voice cooed. "You didn't plan to leave without telling me, did you?"

"Freyalizabeth, pray tell how many times I've told you not to sneak into my chambers like this?"

Hitocillia muttered, turning onto her side to face away from the woman. The lighthearted chuckle that followed Hitocillia's question was all to be expected though. The woman, as she was requested apologized, albeit sarcastically, and raised a hand into a salute.

"My apologies, Lady Hitocillia. Commander 'Lizzy' wishes council with thee." The pillow that met her face after that spoke hundreds. Freya's muffled laughter were heard underneath. She took it upon herself to take a seat onto Hitocillia's bed, wrapping an arm around the resting Commander. Knowing Freya, Hitocillia knew that she wouldn't budge until she got what she wanted. So, with an exasperated sigh, she relented. She squirmed back to face the Commander that held onto her, sporting at least a checkered smile.

Freyalizabeth Erilvia-- or "Lizzy" as she rathered, had been yet another Commander in this platoon. Unlike the rest, however, this particular thorn in Hitocillia's side had something the rest didn't: her heart. This auburn-colored hair female had been with Hitocillia ever since they were children. Being the daughter of such an influential leader came with quite the list of cons, most notably everyone fearing her. Freya was different, however, treating Hito as, well, a normal girl. Long before the two earned their ranks and had still been lowly recruits, the two did everything together. It'd also been the time when the nickname "Hito" was born, for better or for worse. Lord Dignitas had taken a liking to the girl, finding her vibrant nature and sharp insight to be a valuable asset to the Empire. He approved of their friendship, knowing little of the budding relationship between the two. It was once the two were reaching their final years of recruits did they reveal their feelings for each other. Interestingly enough, it'd been Hitocillia to initiate. Not knowing how others would react, however, they opted to keep the situation under hushed lips. Everything went well for the most part, until the two finally became Commanders of their own. The Rank and responsibilities associated with it crippled the time they were able to spend together. Not long after did they seldom get a chance to sit down like this, to just conversate. Noting her obvious omission from the earlier meeting, Hitocillia imagined that she was taken away on business elsewhere. She was happy to see that she returned unscathed, but the moment had been nothing but bittersweet. She was about to leave herself, after all.

"Some of the rookies told me you pummeled that idiot, Fordwin. Is that true?" Hitocillia wasn't surprised that the news quickly reached her ears. Freya was always good at extracting information.

"Sort of," she responded, dismissively. "The clown wanted to put on a show, and he got one."

"I expect nothing more from my dear Hito, putting fools into their place!" Hitocillia squirmed, escaping an arm from Freya's grasp. With an appendage free, she grasped onto Freya's cheeks, squeezing with minor force.

"I already told you how I feel about that pet name." Freya ignored her, however, choosing to close her eyes and pucker her lips further. The flushness on Hitocillia's face spoke thousands, and she immediately let go.

"Oh, sorry. Do you rather... Darling? Or maybe, Sweetheart? Oh-oh, how about, Love-of-my-Life?" Another pillow met her face. Hitocillia simpered. She was grateful for her bubbly spirit, but even that hadn't distracted her from the dream she had. The tone this one held was far unlike any she's had in a long time. As observant as Freya was though, she wasn't going to let the disingenuous grin escape her sight. Realizing Hitocillia's discomfort, she asked, "What troubles you?"

"Another of those dreams. It's nothing, really-"

"What do you mean nothing," she exclaimed. It hadn't been the first she's heard of these night terrors, but it still worried her all the same. "Lest you forget, the last nothing almost got you killed!"

"Almost isn't absolute, now is it?"

"It's close enough," Freya muttered. After a brief pause, Hitocillia sat up, resting her forehead onto her platoon-mate's. She whispered in a soothing, yet consoling tone. "Don't grow yourself ill with worry. If it becomes an issue, I'll be sure to tell you."

"Promise?"

"Aye." To seal the contract of words, she pressed her lips against Freya's. The contact remained brief; Hitocillia rathered to not promise more than she could effectively keep. After all, she still suffered from being unable to recollect the night's past events clearly. It's best to keep what little she could scavenge to herself rather than worry another.

The two were interrupted by a knock on the chamber's door. As it creaked opened, the two separated, as to not give away their little secret.

"Commander Hitocillia," the guardsman began. "Your unit is ready to deploy--" His words trailed off, having turned his attention to the second Commander. How could he forget his manners? Placing his hand onto his head, he continued. "I apologize if I was interrupting anything, Commander Freyalizabeth, ma'am!"

"No, you weren't," she responded with an indifferent tone. It was a quick shift in character, even for Hitocillia, but it seemed to have convinced the guardsman quite well. "I had simply been wishing Commander Hitocillia good luck on her next mission." With that, she stood up from the bed, approaching the man. She dismissed him quickly. "She'll be out in a moment." Uneager to go against the wishes of a Commander, he scurried along the corridor. Before Freya followed, she turned back towards Hitocillia one more time. She'd been smiling, but it hadn't been one of rejoice. It'd been one of quiet remorse. She didn't need to say anymore words--Hitocillia understood quite easily. After the door closed behind her, Hito was left once more to ponder to herself. But first, she needed to prepare.