Marduk + Sigurd: Bond
“Marduk-sama, there is a package for you.” The building manager handed him another small box as he arrived. It was the third this week. And the tenth this month.
As usual, it was wrapped with a gold silk, which he couldn't recognize at all. All he could tell was that this fabric wasn't made in Othard.
The only person he knew from there… was that nomadic miqo’te he met while making some trades at Reunion in behalf of Lord Hien: Sigurd Alvitr.
Already at his apartment, he opened the package, and the contents were the same as the previous ones. Fancy tea from the far western, a land he had yet to see with his own eyes. He couldn't deny it. He really loved tea, and he didn't know how the miqo’te figured out his favorite drink, but he really appreciated the detail. But… to have the other send presents all the time…
How did Sigurd know where he lives anyways!?
--
He took out the small tea boxes and stored them in his small closet, just to find a particular box. It immediately caught his attention.
“What is this…?”
He opened it and the smell was strong… tobacco leaves were delicately put in a box, and he could say it was really good quality. Marduk was surprised to have received such present this time. Usually he had no friends or people he usually made small chat with.
The pale Au ra couldn't resist it. He had to try it. And with haste he prepared his pipe and took a smoke.
He couldn't help himself this time and smiled at the thought of meeting with Sigurd again and actually have a nice chat.
Maybe Sigurd was more than a simple and nomadic flirt.
--
The packages kept coming, and with time, he actually was looking forward to receive them. The tea and tobacco he received were always delightful.
But he also wanted to talk to Sigurd. Tell him how he liked the gifts, and maybe make the tea ceremony for him.
But how? He really didn't have a way to reach for him, or a place where he could arrive for a gathering.
Marduk was opening a new package already, wrapped in the same silk. He had his desk drawer filled with all the pieces he had received so far, saving them like some kind of gold treasure. But, this package was different.
“...” There was no tea. No tobacco. It had a linkpearl device. And then he knew what he had to do.
“It's time to look for him.”
--
He spoke to Lord Hien about it. As the monk he was, he needed to travel to find himself and maybe some new life goal. After a long chat and reasoning, he was allowed to leave (Actually Hien himself was encouraging it!).
He was going to travel to Eorzea at last!
On the weeks he was preparing for the trip and after the linkpearl was delivered to him, the presents stopped. Marduk was a bit worried that Sigurd got tired of just giving and not receiving. But then there was this device… and since he got it, there was no call or communication made yet.
Maybe it was a message from the other party for him to take the initiative and start communicating.
But apart from thanks, what he could say?
He didn't have much experience in this kind of small talk at all. And if he asked for advice, he would raise suspicion.
So the best definitely was to go, search and meet the miqo’te in the flesh.
--
When he realized his new surroundings, he realized that nothing would be like it was. Othard was long behind. Now it was Eorzea. His adventure. He met the Scions, went with them through many missions.
But as his adventure was getting intense and time passed, he was unsure of being able to meet with Sigurd. Eorzea was just so immense and vast.
And one day, Minfilia told him to go to the Vesper Bay. He would now see the Scion’s headquarters.
He arrived first. Maybe he had to wait one or two days before the rendezvous. So it was a good chance to see around. The port, the tavern, find a place where to stay.
He arrived to the central plaza and took a seat at one of the benches, enjoying the soft breeze, looking at the kids playing and other people interacting, and then from afar, he caught sight of Sigurd entering the town.
‘What a coincidence.’
His eyes followed the dark-skinned miqo’te, and realized that he quickly entered the tavern. That was his cue to step in. He dashed to the place, and knocked the back door, having a old hyur open it.
“I hope you’re having a fine day, sir. I must abuse your trust, and ask you a favor.”
Marduk paid for a drink, and gave the man a piece of the gold fabric to be delivered to Sigurd. While waiting, he used his skills and waited for a reply at the roof of one of the tallest buildings in town. If his plan had worked, he would use his linkpearl this time, and then get close to the miqo’te, until they met face to face.
And it worked. The linkpearl registered activity.
“Marduk, where are you!?”
He couldn’t hold back a soft laugh after hearing the surprised tone from the other.
“Follow the clues, and you will know.”
--
It turned into a game of rally and clues, where he made Sigurd grab all the pieces of fabric he had given with the presents. The last one had yet to be found, and the blond miqo’te was inside an alley. There was a pack of boxes piled up and the piece of gold silk was there to be grabbed.
Losing no time, he reached for it.
It was the last piece, but there was no sign of Marduk.
“Marduk, please. If you made me run around this place for just a linkpearl tease--”
Sigurd was patted on the back.
“It was actually a tease. You’re back at the tavern.”
The miqo’te pouted by the silly game he fell for, but somehow no words of complain came out. Instead he laughed in defeat.
“Don’t worry, Sigurd-san. Drinks are on me this time.”
“Who would have thought that Marduk would be like that, considering how he stays away from people.”
“I do actually think that I have more than offer, but only to the right ones.”
“...Am I one of the right ones?”
‘...I think you’re THE right one.’
--
He woke up and stretched his muscles. Sigurd and Marduk spent the night at the inn, chatting, talking, knowing each other at the room they shared for the night. There was no physical contact, as Sigurd really wasn’t someone as easy as he thought, and he, on the other side, was never attracted to others so easily. Last night they focused on getting close, and forming a bond.
Reaching for his haori, he threw it over himself, and was about to get up for some water, when a clawed hand stopped him.
“Good mornin--” He whispered as he turned to look for the miqo’te, but what happened he wasn’t expecting it at all. Sigurd clung to him, arms around his torso, and reached for Marduk’s lips, kissing them.
The raen said nothing, nor pushed the other away. Actually he allowed himself to be kissed and closed his eyes. It was actually the second time he felt these feelings inside… and at first, he was scared… but something on said feelings was repeating him to give this a chance. He used his hand to reach for Sigurd, caressing his soft hair, as soft as the silk he had received from him.
The kiss was only parted by the need of oxygen from them, and Sigurd stared into Marduk’s eyes, sporting a soft smile.
“Would you want to come traveling with me?”
“...” Marduk’s hand had never stopped caressing the blond hair. He did it for some more time, and then moved to the miqo’te’s cheeks and lips, his thumb getting to travel and know how the other’s lips were.
“Yes.”
And then, they started the adventure around Eorzea together.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dearest @cerulianvaultofwonder!!
Here’s some art from both me and @corecyan-x, with much love for you.
