A Tiny Pocket of Time
Ship: Ashe x Al-Cid (kind of) Rating: Mature Summary: They are heading off Mt Bur-Omisace the next day, and Ashe truly should rest, yet she can't get shut-eye. Outside under the starry sky, she meets Al-Cid, whom she thought had already left. What was supposed to be a mind-clearing walk in the night turns out to be a breathtaking mind-emptying meeting between strangers.
A sigh escaped my lips before I could stop it. The starry sky of Ivalice curved above me as wide as ever. Here I was, on the mountain of Bur-Omisace, unable to change the world the way I wanted to, unable to take back my country. So many had been taken away from me, and even though I now hold the Sword of Kings and the power of two Espers, I remained a vagrant princess that Judge Magister once called me.
I was but a small Hume in the scale of Ivalice, and a heavy burden had been placed on my shoulders. No one ever asked if I wanted to carry it. No, it had simply been given to me on the day Rasler was killed. When the Archadian soldiers murdered him. Now he, too, asked me to push forward and take revenge for all the wrongs that had been thrown at us.
Tonight, we should rest. Balthier had told us thus, since we would have a long way ahead of us. Step by step toward Archades, so we could finally end this madness. Nevertheless, I could not allow myself to slumber even though Fran and Penelo were already wrapped in blankets in the tiny tent we had gotten. How could they? Didn’t they, too, carry the burdens of their own? Hadn’t they equally lost everyone and everything around them?
But no. Not truly, for Penelo had the faithful Vaan always by her side; Fran was Bathier’s partner in crime. While Basch had sworn to serve me, I could not completely trust myself in his care in the way the other two shared their lives with their special people. Perhaps if Raster had lived, then… Absolutely no. This thought couldn’t go any further; it was not allowed.
“Alone in the night, isn’t that quite a bold move for a princess?” A soft, slightly accented voice swam into my ears.
I shivered—must be the cold of the mountain and night—and wrapped my arms around my upper body before turning and facing the man. He had given up the black glasses of his, yet the unrelenting smirk still hung on his lips. Even after everything we had witnessed.
“Al-Cid,” I noted, making sure the tone of my voice was cold. “Weren’t you supposed to take your leave?”
“Many things are supposed to happen.” He stepped closer. “Alas, the night has fallen, and I was kept by the refugees for so long that leaving was not possible anymore. I must wait until dawn breaks, for I am not such a madman who would challenge the mountain in the darkness.”
I could have asked how mere fugitives could keep Al-Cid from returning to his home, Rozarria. However, I chose not to. His reasonings would only make my ears bleed, and I had no nerves for such tales tonight. Though perhaps the true purpose of his delayed traveling was the injuries he had gotten before. He seemed well enough to walk without his maids, but probably he wanted to hide his state from the public eye.
In the darkness, he did not look as irritating as in the daylight. Starlight softened his edges and complimented his dark, wild hair while his gaze lingered on me in the very same manner as in our first meeting. He probably rested his eyes on every woman he ever met, which meant I was nothing special for him, except for my position, and even that was compromised at the moment.
If only I had power… No, if only I could forget all about power. Even for a tiny fragment of time.
“May ask if you are well, Lady Ashe?” Al-Cid leaned in, peering at me. “You do sigh awfully a lot for such a beauty.” He reached for her hand, taking it into his and rubbing his thumb against hers.
I pulled my hand back to myself. “I am quite well, thank you for asking.”
Perhaps it hadn’t been wise to wander out at this hour. The refugee camp was quiet, so was the mountain. It would have been easy to roll down without anyone noticing, and here I was alone with a member of Rozarria’s royal family. They weren’t the enemies, but… Al-Cid was a walking sign of warning.
“But you shouldn’t worry about me. After all, you are the one who ended up hurt in the…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, leaving the ending hanging between us.
“It could have been worse,” Al-Cid answered. “I will be able to travel tomorrow. And I believe our little lordling was the one who will carry the heaviest scars of us all.”
I nodded. Larsa. Vayne’s brother, who had walked by my side for a while. He shared my vision of a better world, but he probably had even less power than me. Great suffering had been his part as well, yet he wasn’t even an adult. The war Archadia had forced upon us spared no one.
“Well, then I wish you good night,” I said as Al-Cid didn’t elaborate.
Stepping by him, I intended to return to the tent I shared with Fran and Penelo. In spite of that, he grabbed my arm and stopped me from proceeding. “A word, Princess.”
I tugged my arm, but his hold was tight. “Are you threatening me?”
“Is that how you see me?” The man gave me a long look. “I did not ask for this war; much rather, I would vote for peace.”
“Then…?” I lowered my gaze toward his hand that was still clutching my upper arm.
“You could leave all this.” Al-Cid shrugged, looking around. “Rozarria can offer you safety until all this dirty business is done for.”
“As much as reinforcement would be needed, I can’t step aside and allow others to fight for my battle.” My role in this was bigger than that. I needed to take the sword and strike down the forces that had stolen my life and realm.
“Perhaps I can offer you something else then?” Al-Cid’s voice turned even softer than usual, his accent pressed heavily. His eyes locked into mine, deep and dark as the sky above. Never had a man looked at me like that, not even Rasler, and I had shared my bed with him. This was something else, much more intense, but the suggestion was clear.
Yet… it couldn’t be. Al-Cid wouldn’t propose something so indecent.
“I don’t think there is anything you can offer me.” I emphasized every word. “Now, let my arm go.”
“Always so hasty.” Al-Cid let out a chortle. “Unfortunately, I can’t do as you wish, Your Highness.” He slid his thumb on my bare arm.
Tiny bumps covered my skin. Because of the cold wind. Must have been the cold wind. I sighed, this time on purpose, only to get another peal of laughter out of Al-Cid. He kept his gaze on mine, probably seeing deeper than anyone for a long while.
“The world is harsh, and duties even harsher. Even in my position, I do know that,” Al-Cid said. “Sometimes we need to unwind, set ourselves free.” He drew in, his face now near mine.
I lifted my chin, keeping my posture as straight as possible. “I don’t have time for pauses.”
“And yet, every tiny gesture of yours tells a different story.” Al-Cid reached his free hand up, caressing my jawline.
Thousand sparkles dashed along my spine, making me shiver in an unexpected way. His fingers were warm, almost heated even on the cold night as if he had locked the power of the Sun within his body. I took a step backwards, only to hit my back against hard rock, and my breath grew shallow as blood rushed through my veins and burned on my cheeks.
Traitorous body. I had not allowed it to react like this. Not in the company of this irritating man who knew no shame and only thought about himself.
“There is no one here,” Al-Cid whispered, still clutching my arm as he pressed closer. He locked me between the rock and himself. “People like us, we can rarely be free. But there are these tiny pockets of time when the eyes aren’t watching. We should make the most of those, for that is the only time we can be who we truly are.”
“And… what is that?” I hated how my voice shook with every word.
“Simple humes with yearnings and wishes to be seen and to feel taken care of.” His answer hit a soft spot in me, deeply. “Don’t try to deny it, Princess. Even you wish to be touched and set free. Your duties are heavy, but you can steal this moment for yourself. No one needs to know.”
No one needs to know… The words echoed in me.
Two long years I had walked this path. Denied every hume side of me and focused on freedom and revenge. That was expected from me, that was what I wanted. But for this one night… Could I truly let go and simply surrender? Was it that straightforward?
“Will you allow me to show you?” Al-Cid more breathed the words than said them. His face was near, lips moving a mere inch away from mine.
“I…” Didn’t know what to say.
“Are you perhaps lost for words, Princess?”
Such a teasing voice. It made the bottom of my stomach tickle and sent hot waves down my thighs.
“You…” I swallowed. “…know as well as I that this is inappropriate.”
“Yes, indeed, that is the bottom line of this.” Al-Cid leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. “You only need to say a word, and I shall make this night warmer for you with a promise of temporary oblivion.” His hand snaked its way into my hair.
It was difficult to breathe, difficult even to stand as my heart drummed in my ears and made my throat tight. I had only ever allowed Rasler this close, and after what became of him, I hadn’t wasted a thought on such matters. Yet right now, the most secret parts of me were already flaring, releasing soft, wet feelings deep within me. It was so wrong and yet so right, everything I needed at that moment.
“So, how shall it be?” A mere playful whisper.
“No one will ever know,” I whispered back. The words mushed together, being barely audible.
“A gentleman never tells.”
His mouth found mine, his lips captured me into a feral kiss, more animalistic than I had ever experienced. Nothing compared. The fire scorched through me, making my toes curl as Al-Cid pinned me against the stone. His scent was musky and filled me when I drew breath in between intense suckles of his lips.
Everything in the kiss yelled experience, but I tossed that thought aside and closed my eyes when his tongue sneaked into my mouth and greeted mine. A bold move, unfamiliar feeling. Insolent even, and yet, exactly what I craved for. This was different, something I hadn’t been prepared for, nor would have ever asked, but I didn’t have to since he seemed to know how to handle me in a way that didn’t remind me of my earlier experiences but gave me what he had promised.
Al-Cid broke the kiss, leaving me panting. Yet, he did not stop there but showered my neck with smooches so soft they made my knees buckle. His fingers found my sides, slipping under my top, rough and warm. I could feel that he had held a sword at some point regularly. Perhaps, every member of Rozarria’s royal family had fencing education. Either way, there was rawness in his touch when he searched through my skin, examining each and every one of my bare spots he could reach. So eager, almost hungry, his lust for me was something unfamiliar, yet intriguing, and it coursed through me, making me agitated and pulsing. Never before had my intimate parts throbbed like this, never had I ached to be caressed in such ways that the mere thought made my whole face burn. This was not shy embraces and clumsy propping under the covers, no, this was breath-taking full body dancing that made my mind whirl.
As I still gaped, Al-Cid wriggled his fingers under my clothing. Until now, I had not thought how much it was already revealed, but it was clear that he knew exactly how to reach those places that used to be covered. He made my tiny buds perk with gentle, yet demanding circling. If only he had done more! Such a strange thought. It was like my body was coming alive for the first time.
“You are allowed to touch me, Lady Ashe.” There was laughter in Al-Cid’s voice.
My fingers flinched on their own. I was allowed… This was so different, nothing like I had used to. Oddly enough, I found myself willing to obey. Only this once, at this weird moment that would never repeat itself. Time pocket, as Al-Cid had called it.
His cheeks were bristly to touch; he had not shaved recently, but lately enough so that his beard was still neatly formed. His metallic neck piece covered his throat, yet under it, his skin greeted my fingertips with warmth. He had not buttoned his shirt all the way, and the sight I had thought as repulsive when we had met was revealed to be more alluring now. His hairy chest… no words for it. Still, I could not help but snap button by button open to reveal more of it to the nightly breeze that washed over us, cooling heated sensations. No, not truly cooling them but more like creating contrast to them.
“So careful…” Al-Cid pressed my palm on his hard stomach. Under all his smooth talk, he had the body of a warrior, muscles of a fighter.
“I wouldn’t dare to offend you.” This time, I made sure my voice wasn’t trembling, even though wandering fingers were sliding their way up my thigh while Al-Cid still held my hand on his body with the other hand.
“Please, Princess, you wouldn’t be able to do that even if you tried.”
Now, that was offensive. Yet, I let it slide, or more like the thought was wiped from my mind, for Al-Cid’s fingers reached the apex of my thighs, slithered along the soaked fabric of my underwear, and snaked their way under it, forcing a vibrating moan out of me. A sound I heard for the very first time in my life.
My fingers curled, scratching Al-Cid’s stomach, but he did not mind as he did a dance on my nub that sent pleasures through my body all the way to my toes and my mind that was getting hazy from all the sensations. I was turning into a whimpering mess in the hands of this stranger I shouldn’t have surrendered at the beginning with. Nonetheless, the flaring and pulsing feeling was too good to be refused, to be tossed aside. It took me over and, combined with the stone that was scraping my back, forced the last sensible ideas out of me. From then on, I was nothing but a wild creature, a slave of my lecherousness he had woken up within me.
And later, when the skin of my back ached with every movement of the fabric of my clothes as we walked down the mountain, the sensation formed a rough titillation that didn’t cease to throb through me. A long-lasting reminder that there were these tiny pockets of time, even a princess could be free.
A/N: Back in the day, I wrote my very first Final Fantasy XII fic: a PWP scene between Ashe and Al-Cid, written in my native language. Now, I thought I would want to translate it, so I read it again, only to realize that my writing style and my goals as a writer have evolved quite a lot since then. Hence, I decided not to translate the piece but remake it into a story with some kind of point about Ashe understanding herself and her place in the world slightly better. If I manage that or not, I leave for others to be judges of. Personally, I enjoyed this, rediscovering an old piece of writing and making something new out of it.
