“Are you-“ Locke coughs, spits sand from his mouth, tries again a little louder over the din of rushing desert air, “Are you sure you can handle this?!”
“Of course!” Terra shouts.
His fingers flex against her waist. “We haven’t gone that far yet. We could go back and get separate chocobos, for... comfort.”
She glances back over her shoulder at him, tugging the reins to slow their pace. “Are you uncomfortable?”
“No! Well, a little, but...” He swallows. “Isn’t it awkward for you, trying to control this thing with me hanging on?”
The chocobo comes to a complete stop now, blinking curiously back at its riders. Terra bows her head, and when her voice reaches him, it’s airy with a smile. “I like having you close.”
“Okay then.” Locke slides his arms tighter around her. “Let’s go.”
By the time Figaro Castle draws into view, Locke’s face is windburnt (though he’s sure Terra’s is worse), his arms are cramped up and tired, and his boots are filled with what he thinks must be at least five pounds of sand (who knows? Maybe some rare gems are hiding in there too), but if he’s honest, he’s doesn’t really care.
Locke/Terra, "Sand"
“Of course!” Terra shouts.
His fingers flex against her waist. “We haven’t gone that far yet. We could go back and get separate chocobos, for... comfort.”
She glances back over her shoulder at him, tugging the reins to slow their pace. “Are you uncomfortable?”
“No! Well, a little, but...” He swallows. “Isn’t it awkward for you, trying to control this thing with me hanging on?”
The chocobo comes to a complete stop now, blinking curiously back at its riders. Terra bows her head, and when her voice reaches him, it’s airy with a smile. “I like having you close.”
“Okay then.” Locke slides his arms tighter around her. “Let’s go.”
By the time Figaro Castle draws into view, Locke’s face is windburnt (though he’s sure Terra’s is worse), his arms are cramped up and tired, and his boots are filled with what he thinks must be at least five pounds of sand (who knows? Maybe some rare gems are hiding in there too), but if he’s honest, he’s doesn’t really care.