Closer

[Author: sorry for the lack of chapters, I had a heavy influence. I'll post another chapter soon.

PS:

From today the chapters will have around 2000 words (this one has a little less, due to the content) for two reasons. First, writing 3000 words takes too long. Secondly I'm in the process of writing a new book and this Fanfic will be more of a free time job.]

--------------------------

In the silence of the night, the two sat on a bench illuminated by several magical lanterns. The place was quiet, with only a few people passing by or adventurers returning home. 

Mark watched as Zoe moved her hands nervously as if what she was about to tell him was deeply personal to her. Even though he was curious, he said nothing and remained silent, waiting for her to speak. 

"You see... I have a secret that only a few people know." -Zoe began. 

Mark stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. 

After taking a deep breath, Zoe went on. -"As you know, my mother Astrea adopted me, and where she found me was a forest near the village where she lived and where I grew up." -Zoe explained. 

"In a forest?" -Mark asked, confused. -"Does that mean—" 

"Yes, for some reason, I was abandoned." -Zoe sighed. -"But that's not the problem. My mother found me when I was thirteen, and the issue is that…" -Zoe paused for a moment before gathering the courage to continue. -"I have no memory of anything before that, just total darkness." 

Mark's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Zoe to have such a past, and that memory gap... 

"Are you sure it was okay to tell me this?" -Mark asked. 

Zoe smiled slightly at him. -"I won't deny that talking about it hurts, but I can't keep living as if it isn't true." 

"Could the memory loss have been caused by some trauma?" 

"I don't know. I've tried different methods, but nothing seemed to work—at least not until I met you." -Zoe said, looking into his eyes. 

"Sorry... what?" -Mark's face was filled with question marks, which was more than understandable. 

He didn't recall doing anything and knew he had no connection to her memories, which explained his confusion. 

Seeing his increasingly puzzled expression, Zoe smiled faintly, but her face soon fell. 

"I owe you an apology, Mark." 

"...Now I'm getting confused." -Mark said, not understanding why she was apologizing now. 

"The reason I was so insistent on helping you wasn't just out of good faith." -Zoe said, lowering her gaze in shame. -"I don't know why, but when I'm near you, it feels like I can see my memories in the form of dreams. Before meeting you, they were nothing but a dark fog." -Zoe explained in one breath. 

"...Wow." -A strange sound came out of Mark's mouth after receiving such a bombshell of information. -"This... really?" -He had to ask, perplexed. 

"Yes." -Zoe nodded, still unable to look at him. -"I discovered it by chance, and after testing it several times, there's no doubt." 

"I knew it would be strange to tell you I had to touch you, and I hadn't yet worked up the courage to open up and explain everything. So, when you weren't well, I used that as an excuse to stay in contact with you... I'm terrible." 

Zoe's shoulders began to tremble. -"I'm a terrible friend." 

Zoe started sobbing as tears streamed down her face. 

Mark still had many doubts, but seeing Zoe in such a state made him feel awful, especially since he valued her greatly as a friend. 

Pat

Zoe felt a hand gently resting on her head, stroking it softly. Turning her gaze slowly, Zoe could see Mark looking at her calmly. 

"It must have been terrifying." -Mark began, stroking her head. -"Waking up suddenly with no idea who you were or where you were." 

In that, they were similar. Both had ended up in an unfamiliar place with their pasts erased. He could empathize with her. 

"Despite everything you've been through, you've grown up wonderfully. And what's wrong with being a little selfish when you've finally found something that could help you?" -Mark joked. 

"B-But I used you." -Zoe said, sobbing. 

"You have a really odd idea of what 'using someone' means, you know?" -Mark smiled, pressing his hand more firmly on her head, ruffling her hair. 

"Pfft! Now you look unique." -Mark laughed. 

With her hair all messed up and her eyes puffy and red, there was no denying that Zoe looked a bit funny. 

"Y-You!" -Half-annoyed and half-embarrassed, Zoe quickly covered her face. 

"Zoe." -Mark called, and Zoe removed her hands from her face. 

"I have no right to judge you." -Mark said, looking her in the eyes. -"You indeed did something without telling me, but that doesn't erase all the hours you spent taking care of me. Honestly, I'm surprised you managed to hold back." 

The last part wasn't a joke; he was genuinely surprised she could restrain herself from clinging to him. 

"So... you're not angry?" -Zoe asked timidly. 

"It takes much more to make me angry. I'd say I'm just a little confused." -Mark scratched his head awkwardly. 

Zoe smiled faintly at his response. -"Thank you." 

"No." -Mark shook his head. -"Thank you for being honest with me. I can imagine how delicate this issue is for you, and the fact that you opened up to me makes me happy." -Mark said sincerely. 

Hearing him, Zoe felt her cheeks heat up quickly, and in the end, she responded with a small nod. 

"If this is your problem, I don't mind helping you. But how exactly does it work?" -Mark asked. 

"Usually, I just need to touch your hand or another part of your body for a while, and when I sleep, I can dream about my memories. It seems the more contact there is and the longer it lasts, the better I can remember." -Zoe explained, still showing traces of embarrassment. 

Mark wanted to ask her how she discovered this, but recalling the events in the cave, he understood and decided it was better not to bring it up. 

"Here." -Mark extended his hand. -"Will this be enough?" 

Zoe nodded and slowly placed her hand over his. She hadn't noticed before, but his hand was much warmer and larger than hers, which made her look at it involuntarily. 

"If you keep staring, you'll burn a hole in it." -Mark joked. 

Once again, Zoe felt embarrassed, but she didn't want him to always tease her, so she pinched him with her nails. 

"Ouch, that hurts." -Mark protested. 

"Serves you right." -Zoe smiled, satisfied. 

"...Serial toucher." 

At Mark's whispered comment, Zoe's expression twisted, and she pinched him even harder. 

Amid jokes and laughter, they stayed in contact for several minutes before finally letting go. It was nearly midnight, and Mark had to prepare for energy extraction. 

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" -Zoe asked worriedly. 

"I've been through this several times alone; don't worry." 

"Then see you tomorrow." -Zoe said. Even though Mark wanted to refuse, Zoe insisted he take some potions. 

"Yes, let's see how this tournament goes." -Even though he said that, Mark was pretty confident he would win. 

"Don't worry. If you lose, I'll do my best to make sure Goddess Hestia takes you in." -Zoe said with an ironic tone. 

"A Familia with only two members? No thanks." 

The two laughed again before finally saying goodbye. 

As she walked away, Zoe looked at her hand for a moment, still feeling Mark's warmth, unaware of how red her cheeks had become.