This fanfic goes with the video, "Thinking about it,"... so... yeah. Go check it out.

Indebted.

It was a feeling Talia did her best to avoid. It was something that nagged at her to no end when she had a moment of silence. And the fact that it was Mephisto of all people that she was indebted to made her stomach churn. Every time she decided she owed him nothing, and the boy did what he wanted on his own, that tinge of guilt would pang at her heart.

He didn't have to return the medallian.

He could have used it against you.

He risked his life to help you.

So that was how she found herself here, playing her guitar next to a picnic she set up for the doofus evil doer. She had sent him a summoning spell the previous night with no details whatsoever, only mentioning it was about the medallian. She hoped it would be enough to encourage him to come alone.

Luckily, her hopes were correct as she felt his dark precense emitting from the bushes to her left. She spotted the teen poking his head out. A look of panic crossed his features, having been spotted. He cursed, "Klatznick," before teleporting himself behind her, propped up against a tree in a pose he hoped look much cooler, and relaxed.

"Oh, hey there Talia. What brings you here?"

He regretted the line instantly. She invited him, dummy.

Talia brushed it off with a smile. It was probably the first time she had granted one his way. Granted, it was uneasy and a little shaky, but it was a smile nonetheless.

"I'm glad you came... I didn't know if you would," She managed.

Mephisto opted to remain silent, unsure of what to say to that.

"I uh... wanted to thank you for returning my sisters medalion," Talia continued. The way he was staring at her was making her so... uncofmrotable. She couldn't blame him, however. After all, this was all very... strange. She found trying to form the words explaining what she wanted him there for more difficult than she imagined with him... looking at her, "So I... uh... I made you lunch,"

It felt silly now. He returned the one thing that was her entire world in lue of getting a tactical edge over her and her team in the war they were fighting and she repays his generoisty and bravery with... lunch. Too late now.

"I overheard you mentioning you missed Hurley Beef steak... you know, one time, when you were attacking us... so I got my sister to send some over...," she gestured down at the pinic spread out before them, "I had to cook it here, so it isn't exactly the same, but I tried to get the sauce close enough. And I tried to pick some earth sides that would pair well with it,"

Mephisto's eyes went wide with ansolute, unbridled amazement at the spread. There it was, on a humble little porcelean plate next to a thermous. He had missed Ephidean food SO much and Hurley Beef steak was his all-time favorite meal. He felt his heart start an intense beat that he hoped to Grramorr she couldn't hear. He didn't know what to say. What could he say? This was the single kindest thing anyone, ANYONE had ever done for him.

This took time. This took resources. This took thought. This took listening to him.

They stood there in silence for awhile. Talia became impatient, wondering if he planned to just stare at it all day. Regardless, her debt had been repayed (enough). So she bid him a chaste goodbye and turned on her heels to leave.

Mephisto snapped out of his daze as he watched her go and quickly teleported to cut her off.

"Wait," he pleaded.

Talia sighed heavily, "I'm sorry if you don't like it, Mephisto, but-"

"What? No. I... I love it, trully," He stammered. Crap. How was he supposed to ask her to stay? Why was he so bad at thinking things through? "I was just wondering if... if maybe... you weren't busy we could... I mean you could... uh... Its such a nice day, so maybe you would stick around a bit?"

Talia's gaze narrowed suspisciously at him so Mephisto did his best to give her his sweetest smile. Talia heaved a sigh.

"Only a minute,"

Mephisto didn't bother holding back his excitement, throwing his arms up in a quick cheer, "Great! Lets go, before it gets cold!"

Interestingly enough, Talia soon found herself enjoying herself in Mephisto's company. He savored every bite of her meal in complete adoration with lots of, "so good,"s and "delicious," and finally, "This the best meal I have ever had,"

"I think you're exaggerating," Talia had to comment, but couldn't hide the pleased smirk that danced on her features at the ability to make him so happy, "Earth doesn't have very good substitutes for the steak's seasonings or sides,"

"You sell yourself short, this tastes JUST like home," He complimented, taking another indulgent bite, "It feels like I'm actually there right now!"

"I'd do anything to feel like I was back home... Earth is beautiful but I miss Xeris so much it hurts," she didn't sound outwardly sad, just simply stating facts, though her warm smile faded as she spoke, "Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get to see it again... how it was before Grramorr destroyed it..."

"Oh! You can!" Mephisto exclaimed. With the excitement of an eager child, he took Talia by the wrist and teleported them all the way across town, outside the abandoned warehouse the twins would choose for a battle ground sometimes. He dashed inside ahead of her, shouting over his shoulder, "Come on!"

Talia hesitated. Meeting Mephisto in the middle of the day in the park was ONE thing... but the sun was starting to set and now he wanted her to wonder into an empty warehouse all ALONE with him? If something happened, she wouldn't be able to summon Iris or Auriana in time to help her... this could... this could be one seriously evil trap.

"Hurry up!" She heard him call from inside. The lump in her throat tightened as she tentatively stepped inside.

Mephisto suddenly dropped from the ceiling, and with a big boastful smile said, "Ok. Watch THIS,"

Suddenly, with the lifting of his hands to the air, he summoned his magic circle and the entire room filled with a green smokey vortex. Dark crystal magic swirled all around them. Talia was trapped and suddenly all her fears were justified. Raising her wrist up high, she called out her name and title and transformed. Before she was finished, however, a familiar cool scent tickled her scenses...

And when she opened her eyes, she was amazed to find the warehouse was gone... and she was... in Xeris. Shocked, she looked around, walking in a wide circle as she took in the sights around her. It was there. It was all there. The sparkling quartreez, the cobbled paths, the crystal stones... all just as she remembered...

Mephisto appeared before her, leaning against a tree, "Well?"

"How... how did you DO this...?" Talia breathed, she did her best to resist touching anything, afraid the entire thing would shatter like glass around her, "What is this?"

"It's just an advanced illusion spell," Mephisto calmly explained, "Prax and I were planning on using it as a trap for you three... but Grramorr forbade us because he thought it was stupid... we're still in the warehouse, but we're seeing the place YOU want to be most,"

Talia stared at him in shock. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight and Mephisto felt himself quite proud.

"Oh, almost forgot," he bent forward in a slight bow and in a flash of green, his black and white and green outfit took on softer teals and navys to match the palette of the nation they were pretending to be in, "Don't wanna stand out TOO much,"

Talia was astounded by his kindness and willingness to bring her this happiness. Did he know? Had he any idea what this meant to her? Was he aware what an amazingly thoughtful and beautiful gesture this was? Or was he just being silly Mephisto, showing off and being a fool?

and then... he smiled awkwardly at her in a way that gave her all of the answers she needed. Mephisto was no fool. A braggart and jokester, to be sure, but the boy was quite clever and clearly had a motivation for what he was doing. Though what that motivation was, Talia did not know... And she was STILL cautious it could potentially be a trap she chose not to care at the moment. Tears were flooding her eyes and she knew she couldn't keep them back much longer.

Mephisto saw her face grow red around her eyes, and the tears that refused to spill sparkling the gold of her iris's to a level that made his heart drop, "Its too much, isn't it? I knew it would be too much, I can-"

Before he could finish what he was going to say, Talia lunged forward at him, colding her face softly against his chest, her fingers clutching at the folds of his jacket. No denying it, she could definitely hear the insanely rapid beating of his heart as his face turned a brighter red than his hair. He could feel the tears start to run down her face as she snuggled deeper into him, her own heart matching his rythym. At some point, Mephisto stopped breathing entirely, which ended up being a sound investment, otherwise he would have never heard her soft whisper.

"Thank you, Mephisto..." she breathed, "This is the nicest thing... anyones ever done for me,"

And it was the second time she broke his heart.

"Y-you're welcome, Princess,"

And he really meant it.