For Foolish Hearts
content warnings: slighty suggestive
M'naago Rahz was supposed to be on vacation in Tuliyollal.
Instead, she found herself — once again — having to coddle the feelings of one Arashi Washi, the supposed saviour of the star.
“I already gave you my blessing, Washi. You -” M’naago punctuated the you with a finger jab to the au ra’s chest, “have to bloody ask her if you want to bring her along on another one of your fool adventures.”
The Warrior of Light wilted underneath M'naago’s indignance. “…suppose so.” she said quietly. But it was different than their brief jaunts to the Thirteenth. Now…well, there wasn't really a title for what Aemilia and her were now — lovers? Partners? Whatever the seven hells two women who make love and protect and pine for each other without actually saying they're together are called? — and that came with additional emotional burdens. The need to bring her home safely. The shame and fear of having to look M'naago in the eye if something happened their lover. The pain that would rend her own heart asunder if she…
“…and you know she can handle herself.” she heard Lyse finish saying, far more gently than M'naago’s tone.
“That’s not…why I’m so hesitant…” Arashi mumbled to the ground.
M'naago lost any pretense of holding back.
“Let me make one thing clear for you, Washi.” M’naago’s eyes narrowed to slits and she spoke with a hiss.“You and I both know she has a huge heart with room for both of us and more. But something could happen to her regardless of whether or not she's with you.” She jabbed the au ra in the chest sharply again. Arashi rubbed the spot where she was poked, eyes still drawn down towards Hydaelyn.
“She’s so bloody careless! I don't hear from her for a fortnight and for all I know she's been gored by a boar acting bodyguard for some merchant, or washed up on some shore in bloody Hingashi having chased after a fish on one of her boat trips, or…”
Arashi blinked. She only now realized M'naago wasn't angry with her for wanting to ask Aemilia to be by her side for the next adventure. She was upset at Aemilia for poor communication. Arashi’s eyes met with Lyse’s, whose sapphire eyes said something to the effect of: Sorry. This has been a long time coming.
“…then she had the nerve to tell me that she dropped her linkpearl into the godsdamned Bloodbrine Sea hauling in a frog! How —”
“Naago!” Lyse said sharply. “That's enough. If you're not upset with Arashi, stop ranting at her like you are!“
M’naago seemed to deflate slightly. “…aye. Right you are. She looked up at Arashi. This was the first time since they had been acquainted that the miqo'te actually showed signs of weariness.
“Sorry, Arashi. You've done nothing to harm me. She's just…so dear to me, and I know that I am to her…I just wish she took better care of herself.”
Seeing M'naago this upset made Arashi want to reach out and draw her into a big hug. The au ra suppressed the urge, instead offering a handkerchief to M'naago, whose eyes were misting over. As she handed it over, something clicked into place in Arashi’s mind, and she felt like she saw…really, truly saw M'naago for the first time.
“Listen, I…”
“Oh, shove off and ask your lover along,” M'naago said thickly, blowing her nose into to the kerchief loudly. She walked off with it back towards the main thoroughfare of Tuliyollal.
Lyse smiled sympathetically at her wife. “She'll be okay. And so will Aemilia. She'll have us and the others at her side. Now,” she leaned in and gave Arashi a brief kiss, “stop stalling. Were you this worked up before you asked me to come with you?”
“Obviously,” said Arashi through gritted teeth.
The overcast afternoon was growing darker in over the docks of Tuliyollal, the clouds swelling larger and larger with moisture. It was going to rain any minute now, but a thrill crept up Aemilia's spine.
Something beautiful is going to happen if I keep my line in the water during this rain. Of this she was sure.
A strong tug. Her pole strained against it. Her powerful shoulders tensed against it as she brought in her prize. As her haul crested the surface into the wan daylight, a magnificent pearly specimen with golden-tipped scales was set before her.
Beautiful…but not what I'm here for today. Go back, and tell your friends that today is not their day. She cast her line out once more as the heavens let loose the the rain that had been building.
Cast. She was already soaked through by the rain. A tug. A small fry, nothing more. She ignored it and brought her line back in. A handful of chum from the bucket at her side. Cast. A tug. A little stronger this time, but still not what she was here for. Rest. I know you're out there. Cast.
4.
8…
12….—
“Bloody hells, Aemilia, you're soaked through. Why are you still out here?”
Aemilia valiantly pretended to not have been startled by the sudden interjection into her focus. She managed to keep her rod steady but had forgotten where she left off with her count.
“Waugh — o-oh, hi Arashi!” The raen was in her adventuring outfit. It was reminiscent of Lyse’s but in a deep green. It showed off her toned midrift (and her ample bosom…focus, Aemilia…). Her twin blades, trophies of her victory over the dread tural vidraal Valigarmanda, were strapped to her back. “Enjoying the weather?” Unlike her, Arashi had an umbrella.
“You utter madwoman.” Why am I always more attracted to you when you're doing some nonsense? Arashi thought. She briefly flashed to all the times Lyse dashed off with a hardly a thought into danger. Just my type, I suppose…
“Oh, you know, some fish are only active when the weather changes. You know, even in Labyrinthos with its artificial weather systems, there's an aquatic lizard —” Arashi was spared further details by Aemilia's fishing rod suddenly giving a strong jerk and going very taut indeed.
Hells yes. This is it. What I’m here for. “Arashi, want to catch your first big fish? Help me haul it in!” the viera shouted as she fought to reel in her prize.
“I don't…oh, bloody hells.” She threw her umbrella onto the docks and dashed to Aemilia and put her arms around the viera, hands meeting on the fishing rod. Arashi was quickly soaked to the bone, but she added her considerable strength to Aemilia's. Only…she may have added too much of her considerable strengh, as au ra, viera, fishing rod, and fish flew backward onto the docks of Tuliyollal. Aemilia landed roughly on Arashi, as a flat azure fish with golden streaks thrice the size of a dinner plate thrashed a couple of fulms away.
Arashi groaned, “Aemilia…do you mind… rolling off of me?” Between her twinblades digging into her back and the viera’s considerable frame lodged into her diaphragm, it was difficult to draw breath. Aemilia muttered something like, “…soft…” as she dislodged herself and went over to their catch. Arashi splayed out on the ground, closed her eyes, and relaxed. The rain feels nice on my scales…
Aemilia had gone to claim their trophy. “She's beautiful, isn't she?” Arashi looked over at her. Yes, you are…somehow, despite being soaking wet and holding a huge bloody fish, Arashi thought. “What do you think? Should we bring her home to Ala Mhigo?” Aemilia was referring to the aquariums she helped curate in the palace.
Arashi considered. “…that's a long way for you to bring it back, even in that magicked cooler of yours…Lyse and I can bring it with us when we teleport back and make sure it gets put into a proper home. Sound good?”
Aemilia smiled her crooked smile, which always made Arashi’s heart skip a beat. The viera unhooked the fish from the line and placed it with surprising delicateness into the cooler, then went over to help Arashi up. She was practically hauled up onto her feet. Is this what her fish feel like when she brings them up?
“Oh, uh…were you looking for me?”
Right. The actual reason I ended up laying on a dock in the rain. The excitement and exertion had thankfully blunted Arashi’s anxiety.
“Let’s go back to the cabins and get out of these wet clothes and let’s talk at Xblayav Ty’e in a bell. And you’re buying, mind, I know how much money you actually have.”
“Evening, Arashi. No Vow of Resolve with you tonight?” Br’uk Evu gave her a toothy grin.
“Oh no, she's off on a…diplomatic mission of some kind in Alexandria to meet with Queen Sphene.” They've probably hiding from prying eyes in the Backroom. Kissing, most likely.
“Oh?” The Hrothgar’s eyes were bright. “There's still a lot to work out between our countries, so that makes me glad to hear. What will it be for you and your charming friend?”
Aemilia knew exactly what she wanted and blurted, “I’ll have the chicken mole poblano, please.” She looked so excited at the prospect. Gods, but you are such a delight, Aemilia Grenat. How could I not have you by my side? Arashi felt butterflies in her chest.
She had apparently missed Br'uk Evu asking what she wanted, lost in thought about her lover.
“…Arashi? Did you want anything?
Hells. Arashi panicked and looked through the menu and the first thing her eyes fell on was a dish called poc chuc, a traditional marinated pork dish. She ordered it, stumbling on her words.
Aemilia sipped on her fruity drink that has been brought to her and looked at Arashi. “So. Here we are.”
“Aye. Here we are. “ Arashi replied. What the hells am I doing? “Have you had a good vacation with M'naago?” That's what you came up with? Get on with it, woman!
Aemilia grinned. “Oh, aye. I've obviously done quite bit of my own adventuring out here but it's different when you have intentions of a vacation with a loved one.” She sipped again, and lowered her voice conspiratorially. “And what of you, o vaunted Warrior of Light? Tell me about your apparently neverending adventures in Alexandria!”
Right. She's not going to love this part. Arashi gave her the abridged version of the events involving Solution 9 over the past moons, lowering her voice despite the canteen being surprisingly empty this evening and there being nobody nearby to eavesdrop.
…of the excitement of The Arcadion — and The President manipulating her into needing to act the Weapon of Light once more (Aemilia’s face darkened hearing about the President, but was considerably more excited to hear about the fighters — she decided on the spot that she loved The Tyrant and would have cheered him on instead of Arashi. The au ra made a face at this statement).
…of Calyx’s machinations and having to put her primal slaying cap back on (Aemilia surprised Arashi by reacting rather violently to the story of pushing Lyse out of the way to take the better part of Solution 9’s lightning aether in her stead).
…of Treno and the Mist Continent, and the mysterious Key whose true purpose was still being unravelled.
…finally, of Tataru sending for her via the Students of Baldesion with a mysterious urgent-but-apparently-not-urgent message.
Aemilia listened raptly (She's a good listener when it's someone else doing the talking, Arashi thought wryly), breaking her attention only to devour her meal when Br'uk Evu brought it from the kitchen. Arashi concluded her story and picked at her own dish, which managed to retain some warmth despite speaking at length.
A long pause. “You cannot even have a proper vacation from saving the world, eh?” Aemilia said with a laugh.
“…suppose not,” Arashi said with a weak smile.
“I would not have you any other way,” she reached over and patted Arashi on the hand. Her hands — though callused and rough from years of swinging greatsword and gunblade and scythe and fishing rod — were still surprisingly soft. Her touch lingered a bit, then she withdrew. “Right, but…none of any of that has to do with me. You had something you wanted to ask me.”
This is it, Arashi. “Right, well…I've known Tataru long enough to know that I'm not the only one she's reached out to. And odds are something big is going to happen and we'll need as many people to help as we can…”
“So…you want me to help out with whatever crisis is brewing? Is that it?” Aemilia looked disappointed. “I'm sorry, Arashi. That's just not what I do. The Thirteenth was one thing with my connection to the Void, but you don't even know what's going on yet. ‘sides, I daresay you've got plenty of help if Tataru is reassembling the Scions.”
Arashi, you absolute bloody idiot. Say how you feel or who knows when you'll see her again. She conjured an image in her head of Lyse pushing her forward.
“No! That's not it. Not entirely, anyway, mind…urgh…”
“Then what is it?”Aemilia's deep well of patience was starting to wear thin and she started to look cross with her. “Spit it out. We've known each other for how long and you can’t say what's on your mind with me? Don't be an idiot.”
Shite. Shite. Shiteshiteshite. “needyoubymyside,” she finally managed to mumble.
“What?”
Arashi drew in her breath, looking out of the window of the establishment. The view across the Salt helped steady herself. “I need you by my side. Look, I don't if what you and I have will ever have a name but — you are dear to me. Let's go adventuring together. You and me and Lyse can stand against anything thrown at us.” There. Now I won't have any what-ifs. She'll say she's sorry and she that she cannot come because there's some turtle she needs to catch or something —
"Of course I'll go with you. You great bloody idiot.” She got up out of her chair and placed Arashi in one of her signature bone-crushing hugs.
Arashi managed to squeak out, “Truly?” Aemilia released her, sat back down and found the au ra’s hand again.
“Truly. Of course I want to be by your side. Honestly the bodyguard business can get awfully dull and I was honestly was thinking of going further afield north and west of Xak Tural, past that blighted dome, just to see new things…but it sounds like if I go with you, I'll not only see new things, but I'll get to see them with someone precious to me.” She gave another reassuring squeeze of Arashi's hand, and her face suddenly fell. “But oh no, M'naago…”
“It's…that part is fine. I asked her blessing. Although you'll need to talk with her further about it. Obviously.”
Aemilia looked at her lover gravely. “…indeed. I should…probably head back to the cabins to get our affairs in order so we can take the next boat back to Old Sharyalan. Oh, I'm so excited, Arashi! You sure know how to treat a woman.”
“…with the threat of world-ending doom and romantic dates fighting gods and whatnot?”
“Exactly.” Aemilia got up once more to give her lover a kiss on the top of her head before dashing off into the darkened streets of Tuliyollol.
Arashi glowed, then called out too late towards the street, “Aemilia! You were supposed to pay! Oh hells…”