Hanth and Mala, a history. (Drabble bit)
( Figured since Mal did one for herself I should do one! Though this is much less sadness. <3 )
It was funny how they first met. Hanth was in his 'Bard phase', which he labeled being a glorified man-whore. Mala on the other hand was still undergoing her queer case of blindness, though when they met she looked very much the gypsy. That was half the reason she caught his interest, she just looked interesting.
They talked for a while. Not really about personal stuff, though likely Hanth made some advances but they were met with teasing. Part of the reason he became fond of her, though it wouldn't really become anything for a while.
The first time he actually figured he should try something with her was when he invited her to his ship whilst he was recruiting crew members. He left the crew to socialize and he met her along the prow of the ship. When he tried to kiss her he ended up in the water. A good start, he thought.
Most sane people would avoid each other like the plague, but Hanth was stubborn and Mal was...well, Mal. He'd bug her every so often, learn this or that before going on his way. Until he convinced her to go out on a date of sorts. It ended with him challenging her to a race and winning, the prize being a rather shameful undressing.
Another good start, he thought.
From there? Well, she tried to make it clear that relationships weren't really her cup of tea. One time she hid away some of his heirlooms so he stole her cat Mittens. That caused some ruckus and threats about lute shattering and cat steak.
But he still stuck around and so did she. He confessed every so often that he was a little fond of her, even going as far as to divulge about his family and history. One of the few people to see him cry, manly tears of course, nothing else would due.
And then she disappeared on a trip for a good week or two. Hanth waited. He didn't really have much of a good reason to, but he did it anyway. They had fooled around...well, he had fooled around with her whilst she grumbled. When she came back? Well they shared a bed in Moonglade for a while. Magical, if you're into seeing things like that, but for someone like Hanth who practically lived off sexual relationships it was interesting.
Though relationship wasn't the right word, not quite yet. They were fond with and about each other, but it took a long time before Mal finally acknowledged they were a 'thing'. From there Hanth invited her to live with him on the ship. She had a bad habit of sleeping in bushes. Mittens had a bad habit of chewing on his boots. In the end though she was a partial resident.
They had their problems of course. Mal killed people. She wasn't particularly ashamed about it either. Hanth tried to get her to quit, pressuring her, and in the end he'd only feel guilty about it. Every morning before he woke she was gone. Rarely ever sleeping for more than an hour in the same bed. It bothered him to no end, but everyone has nuances.
One day he gave her a Eternium Ring. She never quite figured out 'why', but she kept it anyway. Hanth meant...well, he loved her. Couldn't really say the same about anyone else. She didn't know what it meant, but he did. That at the end of the day every 'I love you' was for her and no one else. That he wanted nothing more than to be with her.
Then she left. He found out when overhearing a conversation Mal had with some annoying shit stain named Dendrea. Mal was going by some custom her father or old lover set for her to train another murderer and either kill him or be killed. It was perplexing, but they had one last talk and she was gone. He got a shirt of hers out of it, but that wasn't really much help. It tore if he flexed too hard.
And for a while he was alone. Depressed for a long time, drinking and gambling, keeping to himself. Once or twice he tried to move on. Faetrix being an example, though that was probably the most unhealthy thing he could have done for himself. Lillandyr was another, but that's the equivalent of getting a free prostitute. Another unhealthy thing for Hanth.
After all of that business he just kept to himself for a while. The occasional intimate encounter with a friend or two, but that was just spur of the moment stuff.
Then she was back. Unannounced. Well, Hanth was rather peeved with her a while. One part mad and one part anxious. He still loved her of course, but he was afraid she'd leave again. Mad she left in the first place. And so he took things slow. Admittedly he made a stupid decision even though she was back, but no one has to talk about that...
So he slept with someone and told her about all of the failed relationships. He asked her to dinner here and there and tried to ignite things again. It was bumpy and unsuccessful for the longest of times and he was worried things might not come back together, but patience goes a long way. It was worth it for Mal.
And so they started living together and shit was gold.
