Promises in Henna
β Jamil and Kalim see your henna/mehendi that Minajael did for you. And Jamil hasβ¦ thoughts.
(continuation of this)
wc: 1.8k
Minajael squeezed your hand, βitβs getting late.β
You stirred on his shoulder. You squinted at the orange sunset, the earthy scent of the paste wafting in the air. βGuess this is goodbye, huh?β He didnβt answer, still gazing at your hand interlocked with his, idly rubbing the dried henna.Β
Youβd meant it to be lighthearted, but Minajaelβs eyes looked wistful. He seemed reluctant to let go, fingers laced with yours, and refusing to meet your gaze. Finally, he said βNo. Bye for now, maybe. But weβll see each other again.β
β¨ Even though NRC and RSA were on opposite ends of Sageβs Isle, Minajael insisted on walking you back at least part of the way. Once NRC was in sight, Minajael squeezed your hand, βText me when you get back, yeah?β You nodded, and did just that when you got back to Ramshackle. Then, you picked off the remaining henna paste clinging to your skin. You brought your hands up to your nose, smelling the residual scent. Earthy and warm. A reminder of the one whoβd made the design for you, you smiled.Β
β¨You admired the floral design and the pretty mandala, open like a blooming flower on your palm. Minajael told you it would darken overnight. True to his word, your henna had stained even deeper the next morning. It was even more vibrant today, you grinned. Still, maybe Minajael sort of messed it up. It sort of looked like some of the little petals got smudged, because it didnβt match the rest of themβ¦
β¨You just shrugged. Honestly, it didnβt really matter. You had your henna done! You practically skipped through the day, all but proudly shoving your decorated hands in everyoneβs faces and watching their reactions. Your friends were impressed - even Grim wanted his own henna done too. You just smiled and nodded, eyeing his fur. Maybe instead you could have Minajael decorate a handkerchief and tie it around Grimβs neckβ¦?
β¨As you were lost in thought, a loud voice calling your name drew your attention. You looked up. Waving at you from the end of the hall with his drumsticks, was Kalim grinning at you. Behind him, you could spot Jamil shouldering his gym bag. They mustβve just finished up their club activities. Perfect timing!
βHey guys!β You grinned at Kalim, watching him rush over to you. βKalim, slow down-!β Jamil tried, but Kalim stopped just in front of you. βSo you did get your mehendi done! Cater told us during practice!β You nodded, proudly holding your arms up, βmm-hmm!~β
Kalimβs ruby eyes sparkled, βOh wow! Can I see?β He took your hand in his, pulling it up to see the henna. βYour mehendi is so pretty! Itβs so detailed!β His hands were warm, gently running his fingers over your skin. You chuckled as Kalim twisted your hands around to admire them, ruby eyes sparkling. You mustβve been like this with Minajael too, you mused.Β
Jamil finally made it to you both, looking tired. βHey Jamil,β you said with a small smile, ignoring Kalim scrutinizing your arms, βhow was basketball practice?β He huffed, shaking his head with a tired look. βFloyd.β βAh.β You nodded, deciding not to ask.Β
Kalim looked up, βLook! (Name) has their mehendi done!β Thatβs when Jamil finally noticed it. Silently, he admired the stain. It was nice, he thought. Even at a passing glance, anyone could tell your henna was painstakingly done. Flowering blossoms spiraled on your arms, finally reaching your hands. Even your palms had a design, a mandala stained darker than the rest of your skin. Jamil nodded with a smile, βItβs very nice, (Name).βΒ
While Kalim gushed, Jamil studied the pattern. The design looked somewhat familiar. Jamil couldnβt quite put a finger on it, but there was something about the flower design. He just shook his head. Perhaps it was just a design youβd gotten inspiration from. Still, how did you even get henna out here in Sageβs Island? It was the off-season for when people typically got their henna done. Even Kalim didnβt have any with him.Β
Beside you, Kalim tapped one of the henna flowers thoughtfully. βThis looks kind of like royal mehndi designs,β he commented. Your eyes widened, βreally?β Kalim nodded, βmm-hmm! That design is usually done by the royal family! The jasmine flowers are pretty unique designs, a lot of people in the Scalding Sands like βem. I know my cousin does!β
At that, Jamil eyed the floral design carefully. Hmm, Royal designs? His brow furrowed. Was that where heβd seen those flower motifs? He shook his head, no, you mustβve seen it at the Scalding Sands when he took you to the Yasamina Silk festival. He must be overthinking it. βDid you look the design up online?β Jamil asked, keeping his tone even. You chewed the inside of your mouth, not wanting to say. βUm, kind of?β you said, not noticing Kalim turn your hand over to see your palm.Β
βHuh, thatβs weird,β Kalim squinted, bringing your palm up close to his face. βWhyβs Minajaelβs name here?β You flinched as Jamilβs bag cluttered to the ground. Jamil couldn't stop the words coming out of him, βwhat?β
Minajaels name? Was in? Your HENNA design?! Jamil all but snatched your wrist out of Kalimβs grip. You yelped, but Jamil ignored it as he searched between the narrow mandala petals. βMm-hmm!β Kalim chirped, leaning to point it out to Jamil. Kalim didnβt seem to notice the look on Jamilβs face, or that your eyes were blown wide, βRight here, on the palm!β Following Kalimβs finger, Jamil scanned through the mandala rows until he finally spotted it. In the looping script of the Scalding Sands language, was Minajael written among the layered petals.
You shook your head, βOh, no, a part of it got smudged or something on my palm.β Poor Jamil just stared at your palm in shock, almost willing it to be a mere smudge instead of that spoiled princeβs name. Kalim shook his head, answering your question, βnope, that definitely says Minajael. Right, Jamil?β
At first, Jamil didnβt heard Kalim. His eyes were glued to your henna. The vine-like design climbing up your arms, the swirling patterns flicked perfectly outward, the mandala petals intricately and painstakingly drawn in - all of it was done patiently. Fit for a royal. Thatβs when Jamil realized - Your henna wasnβt just nice. It was done lovingly.Β
Something boiled in Jamilβs gut before he finally snapped out of his thoughts. βYes, thatβs certainly the Princeβs name,β he ground out, forcing a neutral smile on his face and letting go of the iron grip on your wrist. Kalim ignored Jamilβs inner turmoil, instead bringing your hand closer to you to point it out.
βSee, (Name)? Itβs right here.β Your eyes widened. Sure enough, the same area you thought was just a smudge, or maybe where Minajael lost control of the henna, was actually writing. Surprise overtook you as you studied your palm. Suddenly, the looping script didnβt look like random scribbles anymore, but an actual alphabet. So thatβs how itβs written. Minajaelβ¦ you looked at it thoughtfully.
Jamilβs gaze was sharp and narrow as he studied your expression. He didnβt like the soft look on your face one bit. β(Name), you didnβtβ¦ ask the henna artist to put his name there,β his grey eyes bore into yours, βdid you?βΒ
You just blinked, βno?β Kalim chimed in, βyeah, why is his name here? Usually having someone elseβs name in your henna design means that youβre enga- mmph!β Jamil smacked his hand over Kalimβs mouth. Luckily, you were too caught up squinting at the mandala on your hand to register what happened.Β
You shrugged, βI guessβ¦ maybe he left his name there as a signature?β At Jamilβs deadpan look, you stammered to explain, βyβknow, like how an artist signs their artwork! Yeah!βΒ
Kalim nodded in understanding, while Jamil frowned. βSo, he did this for you?β At your wide-eyed look, Jamil pressed, βyou saw him yesterday?β You pursed your lips. Dang, looks like you were caught. You just nodded nonchalantly, playing it off, βyeah, he did my henna.β If you were lucky, you could maybe get out without a lecture. Unfortunately, you werenβt so lucky. You sighed inwardly as Jamilβs eyes grew wider than a Spelldrive disk, already freaking out. βWhat?!β
You just shrugged, βItβs fine, I justβ¦ had some free time, thatβs all, and I went to Royal Sword Academy for a bit.β Really, it wasnβt that bad. Youβd left NRC with permission before, so why did Jamil look so indignant?
βYou canβt just leave campus like that!β Jamil blustered, all exhaustion from the day gone as he scolded you. You tried not to roll your eyes as you began walking towards the Hall of Mirrors. βIβve left campus before, Jamil. Iβm a big Prefect, I can handle myself. And this was worth it!β You wiggled your henna-stained fingers, trying to lighten his mood. Jamil just groaned, βThatβs besides the point!β
Kalim just grinned, slipping his hand into yours. βHey, maybe we should get matching mehendi when this one fades!β You grinned, βdefinitely! What do you think, Jamil?βΒ
Jamil just exhaled. Typical of Kalim to make plans on a whim. You looked over, βJamil?β You prompted. He willed his shoulders to relax, and nodded. βSure. Iβve done Kalimβs mehendi in the past, and Najmaβs too.β Kalim brightened, βwe could all have matching mehendiβs!β he cheered.Β
You grinned, nudging Jamil as the three of you began walking towards the Hall of Mirrors. βHey, maybe I could try doing yours!β Kalim chimed in, βYeah! You never have your mehendi done, Jamil!β Jamil hummed at that. It wasnβt often that heβd had his own henna done. Between handling Kalim and managing his own school and work affairs, it wasnβt something he really had time for. Stillβ¦ He glared down at your hand with that princeβs name scrawled in your hand.Β
As if his name being there wasnβt bad enough, it was also the placement. Something about Minajaelβs name being scrawled in your palm made Jamilβs skin on edge. To have his name in your handβ¦ Jamil scowled. As if that prince wasnβt spoiled enough, he even had to go and put his name on you. How presumptuous. Even if your name was in his own hand, the idea still frazzled him. He wouldnβt even want his own name being inside anyoneβs hand. The mere idea made scowl. Did that pampered prince even ask you what you wanted?Β
After you waved your goodbyes, he and Kalim walked through the Scarabia mirror. While Kalim chattered excitedly about your henna, Jamil was more pensive as he thought about the flowers encircling your arms. If he were to do your henna, what design would he make? Perhaps stars or animals? Maybe he could do arches inspired by the Scalding Sands architecture. You seemed to like it when you visited. What about faux-bracelets encircling your wrists? He shook his head, huffing. This was ridiculous. Heβd simply ask you what you wanted, and heβd do it.Β
Soon he was back in his dorm room. Even now, he was still stewing over your mehendi design an hour later. It was the sheer intimacy of having Minajaelβs name in your palmβ¦Β He scowled. And the audacity. Minajaelβs name in your palm was still on his mind, no matter how much he tried to push it out of his head. He unwound his hair from its braids, looking back at his reflection in the mirror.Β
He wouldnβt dare inscribe his own name in your skin without you knowing. Jamil stared at himself in the mirror, eyes darkening at his reflection as he undid the last of his braids. Althoughβ¦ Some little part of him couldnβt deny the intimacy of having a name on someoneβs skin. His thoughts drifted. Where would he put your name on himself? Certainly not in his palm. The implications of having you in his hands made his thoughts turn sour. Idly, he stretched his wrists, still tight from club practice. Then he stopped.Β
Jamil looked down at his wrist. Idly, he brushed a thumb over his skin until he could feel his pulse beating underneath - dutiful, strong, and ever-constant.Β
The rhythm of his heart, proof of life.Β
A smile tugged the corner of his mouth. Maybe he didnβt know what designs heβd create, but he knew one thing heβd like. Your name written in henna stain over the pulse on his wrist. Yes. That would do nicely, ya hayati.Β
I hope this was ok!! Personally Iβve always thought getting someoneβs name in henna over the wrist pulse was super romantic so. I indulged myself.Β Also I had no idea what to title this lmao π
Anyway this was a lil late bc I didnβt know how to end it but lmk what you guys think :D Thanks for reading!! Iβm glad so many people liked the Minajael part!!!!
Until next time, take care shrimpies~ Xoxo Calci!~
Crystal divider and color changing divider by @/cafekitsune. Banner made by me lmao, plus photos i got off pinterest













