AIRSHIP over Besaid - Raphael and Esther
"Daddy look!" echoed the excited, cheerful voice of a little girl in Raphael's eardrums, a voice which gave onto him harmonious joy. Raphael's eyes opened immediately, the large, feathered old man sitting upright not a moment after, gazing around his airship cabin in a slight panic before he could clearly see his daughter at the side of the bed, a look of concern on her face from how he had got up so abruptly. Esther was a short young female, with waist length, elegant and thick glistening white hair, crystal light blue eyes, and elegant and smooth caucasian skin, anyone could mistake such a girl for an angel and wouldn't even think twice about it. Her eyes brought a wave of comfort over Raphael, causing him to crack a small, pleasant smile, and in return, his loving daughter beamed with a smile easily three times as joyful and jubilant, the exultant young daughter melting and tugging heartstrings in but an instant.
Raphael raised his human hand out and patted her head gently and calmly, causing Esther to tilt her head in a motion of cute and adorable confusion before she giggled in joy and launched at her father, hugging him as tightly as she possibly could, whilst stray pyreflies danced and floated around them, a moment of peace once more, as it has been for them for years... Aside from Raphael having to take care of some... curious cats to stay living, and to keep their prying eyes off the little girl whom would never age.
Raphael let out a slightly pained cough, prying his daughters grasp off him, smiling at her at all times, to reassure her.
"Esther, I love you too...! Come on, daddies not as tough as he use to be...!" Raphael wheezed, scratching his neck a little embarrassingly, only for Esther to poke him mischievously.
"No you're not! Nothings tougher than daddy!" She heartily complimented, before sitting off the bed and looking outside, returning to gaze at her father immediately afterward, Raphael knew there was something she wanted to show him, and to make her daughter happy, Raphael stood up and gazed out the Airship window, to the beautiful beaches of Besaid and it's glorious Sphere Stadium. Raphael couldn't help but feel happy, his daughter always loved watching Blitzball, it truly was a sport which would bring people together.
"It's beautiful Esther... Isn't it?" Raphael voiced, looking down to his darling daughter, whom stared right back up to him and replied, with an answer he was expecting, her voice as optimistic and upbeat as ever.
"Mmmhm! Are we going to land at the beach?!"
"Yeah." Raphael returned reassuringly, gazing at Besaids gorgeous scenery, having to bend his back somewhat due to his height, and whilst he bent to get a better look, Esther wasted no time bombarding her father with questions.
"So... We can play on the beach too?!" She perked excitedly, staring at her father, hoping she would get to enjoy her time at the beach before the big Blitzball game. Raphael just looked at her and winked.
"Would I be a father if I said you couldn't?" He asked, before chuckling lightly, causing his daughter to once again hug him tightly. Raphael wished the two could have moments like this forever, it would feel wonderful for it to be so.
"Yay!" Esther beamed, hoping up and down like children do when they're overjoyed, Raphael was greatful for her over excited nature, and he was so happy she was with him now... And would forever be. Esther skipped toward the door, only for Raphael to quickly approach and pat her on the head to stop her kindly, speaking up.
"Hold on,Esther... gotta wait for the Airship to land, daddies going to check with the pilot, be a good girl now and wait for me, would you...?"
"O- okay!" She quickly spoke, before sitting on the bed the two shared during their trip to Besaid. Raphael turned away from his daughter and opened the door to the cabin and walked out, and as soon as the door closed behind him, his smile had all but faded, his face scowled, his anger showed, and he gazed at the floor for a moment... Those feelings of dread will never truly leave him. Raphael aggressively walked to the open, to view the world from the open deck, with a frigid breeze pushing against his face, not as windy as he was expecting, but that was reassuring, he'd hate for Esther to get blown back by it... He wouldn't let even the air push her, not if he had anything to say about it. His hands clasped onto the bars which lined the outer edges of the deck, so he wouldn't fall if the airship took a wrong turn.
"Excuse me... sir?" A voice weakly squeaked to his left, causing Raphael to turn quickly, his scowl never leaving his face.
"What..." He berated, only to see a airship attendant great him, a boy, no older than sixteen possibly, his frame was lanky, weak, fragile, one clean punch could snap his jaw in two no doubt, but he had no need to approach with such behaviour, not yet.
"I- it's nothing" He weakly spoke, frightfully taking a step back. "I- it's just I- w- we were wondering if you would like a d- drink before l- landing?"
Raphael noticed his legs wobble, poor piss ant, kid was probably going to end up shitting himself if he had to stay any longer looking at him, and so, Raphael decided to let the little kid go, all he needed was a single word.
"No."
Raphael turned away, and returned back toward his cabin, he hated being away from Esther, but the thoughts in his head clouded him, sometimes a moment alone is nice, but sometimes some people don't let that happen. On his way back to the cabin, Raphael noticed that the door to the room was open, and Esther was standing outside, looking around curiously, walking down in the opposite direction of Raphael, most likely trying to find him when she accidentally bumped into one of the other passengers.
"Hey!" The passenger grunted. Giving Esther an aggressive and threatening expression, causing Esther's smile to flip to a frown and an expression of fear, and for a moment, Raphael's world halted... And without consequence, he bolted forward.
"Watch where you're going you little b-" Was all the man could let out before his jaw felt the power of cold hard black steel against it, a rough and painful crack echoed from the mans chin as Raphaels mechanical fist plunged into it, breaking it in a single motion whilst knocking the man on his back in agony and on cue, Esther gasped in shock, looking up at her father, who had the eyes of a devil.
"Aaarh! M- mah jaugh! W- waugh tuh fugh?!" Was all he could spit out, before Raphaels mechanical hand clasped around his neck, chocking him tightly, Raphael didn't speak, he just choked, and choked, intending fully on killing the man for daring to speak so ill to his daughter, his life was forfeit, or would have been if not for Esthers hand grasping onto his arm, causing his bloodrage to subside almost instantly, staring at his scared and sad daughters eyes.
"P- please let go of him daddy! H- he didn't do anything wrong! P- please!"
Esthers eyes sweltered with tears... Raphael couldn't handle those, his hand quickly let go of the mans throat, and like Esther his eyes teared up as well, stuttering the next words out of his mouth.
"I-... I'm sorry...!" looked down, he made his daughter upset... What was he going to do to fix this one? He shivered and wiped his tears, not deserving to look at Esther after what happened.
"Daddy...! Come back to the room! Y- you were a bad boy!" She boomed authoritatively. Raphael nodded and stood up, holding his daughters hand, he proceeding back into their cabin to calm down with both sitting on the side of the bed, but before Raphael could speak, Esther hugged him... This would have to do, as the two kept silent until their landing...