Series: Tales of Zestiria
Characters: Zenrus, Mason, Elysians
Additional tags: Family, Reincarnation
Summary: The fire hasn't died, not once since the fateful night Sorey and Mikleo left Elysia.
Read on AO3 or under the cut.
Notes: Happy Anniversary Day! Here’s a little ficlet made for the @tozanniversary mini zine, you can download it freely here!
***
The fire hasn't died, not once since the fateful night Sorey and Mikleo left Elysia.
Zenrus takes a long drag on his pipe, the fire in his house a comforting light in those dark hours.
It always burned gently, when the Elysians gathered to eat. Their human child might have been away, but they simply couldn’t let go of the family tradition. Even without Sorey they would have to be careful the prickleboar population wouldn’t increase.
“If not, Elysia will come to be known as prickleboar Forest in no time at all!” Loanna had said.
They ate, sitting around the fire, wondering what the boys were up to. Were they eating correctly? Were they resting somewhere safe? Would they stay away from hellions like they had taught them? Sometimes the conversation would die out in a heavy silence, and the fire would sizzle louder, sending sparks flying above as if trying to cheer the Seraphim. Lawrence chuckled lightly, carefully placing another log under the cauldron.
“Remember the first time Mason cooked for the boys? It was so bad Sorey wouldn’t stop crying!”
And they laughed, hearts a little lighter, recalling precious memories.
Zenrus takes another drag.
The fire would always feel warmer when Natalie was sitting close.
It crackled with excitement when Mikleo and Sorey came back with the Squire, when they stayed all night chatting with Zenrus. And it gave off quite the nostalgic warmth when they fall asleep next to Zenrus, just like when they were little, Sorey somehow managing to trap Mikleo between his arms and the blanket. The old seraph had carded his wrinkled fingers through his precious children’s hair, heart soaring. Some things never changed.
The light never dies out.
Zenrus stands, tapping his pipe in the fireplace, emptying ashes. He walks toward a drawer to retrieve an old letter and reverently places it with the pipe on the bookshelf before opening the front door.
One last glance at his family sheltered in the house, the last rampart between the suffocating Malevolence creeping into their precious Elysia. The wood inside the fire cracks, like a last goodbye. Zenrus nods.
No matter what happens once he reaches Camlann, he trusts Mason’s light to keep everyone safe and hopeful until Mikleo and Sorey come home.
***
Notes: Let's all pretend Lunarre threw up Mason's soul after being kicked in the stomach. Okay? Okay!
Series: Tales of Zestiria
Pairing: Sorey/Mikleo
Characters: Mikleo, Sorey
Additional tags: Alternate Universe, The Little Mermaid AU, fluff
Notes: Fic 100% inspired by this post. Happy Birthday @toradh ❤
The sun was still high above the cove when they broke through the surface. Sorey immediately took a big gulp of air under Mikleo’s amused gaze.
“You’re too fast,” Sorey sighed, exhausted.
“Are you finally admitting your defeat?” Mikleo asked playfully.
The day was hot, the shallows warmer than usual. Mikleo was lazily swimming around their favorite meeting place when Sorey had showed up, a large towel and books under his arm. They had spend a good amount of time reading in the shadows of the rocks, until Mikleo couldn’t bear staying on the sand any longer. Had ensued lot of fooling around in the waves, a chase for the prettiest seashell and a few races, all lost by Sorey. His stamina was quite impressive, Mikleo admitted, but even he couldn’t beat an undine in its natural environment.
Sorey smirked and splashed water at Mikleo. “Never! I will catch you next time.”
“In your dreams, maybe.”
They swam toward the shore, Sorey standing up as soon as the water was shallow enough for it. He carded a hand through his messy wet hair, pushing his bangs away from his eyes. Water was dripping all over him, the shirt he had seemingly forgotten to take off translucent and sticking to his torso. Mikleo stopped moving, watching as Sorey slowly walked to the beach, his attention completely focused on wringing the hem of his shirt. He quickly gave up on it, reaching behind him to pull the blissfu- thoroughly drenched cloth over his head, exposing sun kissed skin to the world.
Mikleo stared at his friend’s larger shoulders and back, stared at the way they moved while Sorey stretched his arms, stared, entranced, following the course of water droplets rolling languidly along Sorey’s spine until they disappeared past his pants.
Mikleo swallowed hard. The weather truly was hot today, and he was glad Sorey’s focus wasn’t on him. It was still on the shirt, wringing it once more before he dropped it on his shoulder, hands now resting either side of his trousers’ waistband. He wasn’t going to take it off, was he? Mikleo didn’t think he could handle that and-
“Mikleo?”
Mikleo looked up at his friend’s face, Sorey looking back at him. Mikleo felt himself flush, promptly hiding his face in the water.
Caught staring, how embarrassing.
“You alright?”
Humans were weird looking creatures, that’s why he couldn’t help staring. Nothing else.
“You’re all red,” said Sorey, his voice nearer than expected. “Did you get a sunburn?”
Mikleo dared looking up, finding Sorey right in front of him, no traces of teasing in his eyes, only slight worry.
“I’m fine,” Mikleo sighed, moving away.
He didn’t get far though, something dropping on his head. Sorey’s shirt.
“You should be careful,” explained Sorey, “your skin isn’t made to be exposed to the sun for too long.”
He finished adjusting the cloth over Mikleo, smiling brightly.
“Alright! Like this there’s nothing to worry about.”
Mikleo reached for the shirt, hiding his burning face with it. Sorey was wrong. After all that smile was brighter than the sun, burning through his skin and heart, hotter than fire.
