20 years in the future, Sanson is now the Grand Serpent Marshal whilst Guydelot has taken a step sideways and is now the Bard Mentor, taking over from Jehantel. They would have loved for Guydelot to stay in the Adders, but Sanson's promotion means the tenuous tolerance of their relationship will be put under further and further strain. Guydelot could do with a great deal less of following strict orders, and Sanson's rank causes their stations to grow further apart; necessary, but they long for the days when they were just Captain and Lieutenant, working side by side.
This way they are still working together—closer again, even—whilst living unencumbered by the fraternisation code that the Adders were adamant to keep.
Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on a particularly wilful Mi'qitten, and Guydelot is more than happy to do just that.
Sanson swirled the whisky in his glass with a deep sigh before taking a sizable sip. The barstool made for a poor seat for his exhausted body but he couldn’t muster up the strength to move to a nearby sofa. He'd been awake since five that morning and it was a miracle that he even made it to the hotel tonight. His mad dash to the airport had somehow been successful with literal minutes to spare and if he’d missed it, who knew when the next available flight would have been.
Oh well that was all in the past now, sore legs notwithstanding. Besides he couldn’t really get too angry at Cid Garlond for going overtime, the man was a delight to watch in action and even more so to interview. Sanson had been wanting to do a research piece on the rising adoption of green Magitek technology, and who better to give him intimate insight than the man spearheading one of the largest project—
The sound of glass sliding on the counter in front of him jolted Sanson from his musing.
“May I join you?” a smooth voice followed and Sanson turned towards the interloper. A Hyuran man leaned against the counter, a charming smile on his handsome face as he pushed the drink towards Sanson. “You look like you could use some company.”
The man’s voice was smooth, aye, but not the kind that Sanson needed to trail down his spine. Still he returned the smile with one of his own for politeness sake. Ignoring the proffered glass of liquor he deliberately lifted his whisky up with his left hand, all the better to show off his wedding ring at the flirt.
The motion didn’t deter him; in fact the man now took a proper seat next to Sanson, though at least he had the wisdom to reclaim the failed gift for himself. That was an improvement. Sanson tried to ignore him, he was too tired by half and wasn’t in the mood to entertain.
“Perhaps you and I could get to know each other—”
“I’m married,” he interrupted, manners starting to slip as fatigue seeped in. The alcohol, of course, only emboldened his ire.
“A small detail that’s oft irrelevant,” the man countered. “The name’s Rodrich, and you are—”
“Amateur,” a condescending voice cut in abruptly, interrupting the Hyur the second time. An Elezen man approached them this time and Sanson sighed, this better not turn hostile on his account.
“I beg your pardon?” Rodrich bristled at the intruder.
“Amateur,” the man repeated with a smirk. “You ain’t gonna get anyone with that kind of pathetic pillow talk, and certainly not a married man.” Rodrich seethed and stood up, though the Elezen’s height negated any kind of intimidation factor that he tried to project.
“Well, I’d like to see you do better then.”
Sanson groaned, so much for this not turning hostile. How dare Rodrich involved him in this chest-thumping competition when he’d firmly displayed his disinterest. But still… He downed the rest of his whisky and turned halfway in his stool to face the squaring combatants. Maybe this was just what he needed for a second wind.
The Elezen’s smirk deepened and he turned towards Sanson, amused blue eyes peeking from under a curtain of messy bangs.
“Say love, how about we make a dash upstairs so I can fuck you into the bed until the sun comes up?”
Sanson flushed beet red and Rodrich floundered like a fish, jaw dropping in shock.
“I’m married, remember.” He lifted his hand and flashed his platinum band, unmistakable now in the dim light of the hotel bar.
“What a coincidence,” the Elezen remarked as he lifted his left hand, “I seem to have a matching ring to yours.”
A genuine smile—a rather amused one at that—graced Sanson’s lips for the first time since he arrived. “Would you look at that? I suppose then yes, you can fuck me into the bed until the sun comes up.” He hopped off the stool to take Guydelot’s hand and pulled him down by their intertwined fingers for a fiery kiss, part-fueled by the whisky and part-fueled by the little bamboozle they just pulled.
“Have a good night Rodrich,” he crooned as Guydelot finally stopped nibbling his bottom lip long enough for him to speak. Without waiting for a reply he tugged his husband away towards the first available lift, and as soon as the door closed he pinned Guydelot against the wall and peppered his jaw with kisses.
“Flirt,” he teased as a rumbling laugh came out of Guydelot.
“You were about ten seconds away from decking the poor man if I hadn’t cut in.” Guydelot pulled him into a hug, rubbing his cheek on top of Sanson’s head. “So, how about it? Still up for me fucking you until sunrise?”
Now it was Sanson’s turn to laugh. “You’ve got zero energy after a concert, my love. How about one round then sleep, and you can do it all again in the morning?”
Guydelot gasped, “Sanson Smyth, are you calling me old?”
“Our relationship is old enough to attend university, Guydelot. We are old,” he replied. The elevator stopped then and Sanson dragged Guydelot behind him once more towards their room, opening the door with fumbling hands as Guydelot tried his hardest to distract him with lovebites on his nape. They tumbled into the bed with a soft laugh and Sanson stradled Guydelot’s hips, marvelling at how they still fit together perfectly twenty years on.
With slow deliberate movement he lifted the hem of his shirt, noting how Guydelot’s breath hitched with every ilm of uncovered skin. He threw the shirt aside and bent down to lavish needy licks onto Guydelot’s ears.
“You have one shot, do your best.”
Suddenly Guydelot made a grab at him and flipped their position around, pinning Sanson down with his taller stature. Sanson swallowed thickly as Guydelot hovered over him, grinning like a wolf who just caught his prey.
"We should make that a new tradition and come back next year. She's certainly enamoured by the fireworks!" Sanson tightened his hold on Rehlii; no sooner than they walked down the steps from the roof did she fall asleep with a happy smile on her face.
"Mayhap too much," Guydelot grinned, "And so did you."
Sanson's smile softened, "Thank you for inviting me."
The hand on the small of Sanson's back felt warm and comforting, and—strangely—so was the teasing look in Guydelot's sky blue eyes. "Then let's make dragging you from the office a tradition also, aye?"
"About that... I've been meaning to schedule my days better... for her... for you."
"I don't have to tell you Chief, but I will anyway; I'd never turn down having more of your time, and if Vorsie's got an issue with it, I'll send Rehlii into his office in your stead."
Sanson didn't know how he could love Guydelot even more. "Then you shall have it, this I promise."
"Papa, look how pretty they are! Can we come up here again tomorrow?" Rehlii beamed as fireworks burst into a million colours above the treetops.
"Aye, and we'll bring Dad too, what do you think?" Guydelot smiled back, proud of how far she'd come out of her shell.
She nodded, "I'll help you drag him from the office, don't you worry!"
With a conspiratorial grin they bumped their fists together, a dastardly plan in place to make sure Sanson got some free time to spend with his family; and unluckily for the Adders, nothing could ever hope to stop Hurricane Rehlii when she sets off on her path.
The two girls ran towards each other, heedless of their parents' warning to be careful on the snowy pavement. They met, at last, in front of the enormous Starlight tree in Gridania, and promptly did an improptu jig, hands clasped; inseparable. Behind them their parents followed, expression full of fond exasperation at their children's antics.
Fjora waved warmly at Sanson and Guydelot as they arrived by the girls' side. Next to her Haurchefant gave a friendly, but tired, smile.
"It's been a while Sanson, Guydelot, we should do this more often!" she grinned, happy to see her dear friends. Starlight had always been a busy time of year, especially with a school-aged child, and a double date like this was a rare occurrence indeed.
"Indeed it has! Shall we grab that much-needed hot chocolate?" Sanson smiled back, heart just as light upon seeing them.
"Aye, aye. I can do with a sit down after carrying her on my shoulders all the way here," Guydelot chimed in, causing everyone else to laugh.
There was a silent tug on her hand from Haurchefant; he desperately needed a sit down of his own after spending the morning fixing their hot water system. Fjora squeezed his hand back.
"Come Ylinna, Rehlii. Let's get some hot chocolate from the cafe that Aunt Ysayle told us about."
A chorus of yays and woohoo came from the girls before they ran full tilt in the direction of the cafe, unable to curb their enthusiasm for the 'triple cream hot chocolate with snowflake sprinkles' that they'd been going on and on about for nearly two weeks.
"You know, she's gonna want me to make her this special hot chocolate from now on, right?" Haurchefant let out a resigned sigh.
"Can't be any worse than the special home made dinosaur pasta that Rehlii made me do for three weekend straight," Guydelot groaned.
"You were the one who boasted that you could do better than the restaurant. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy, Guydelot," Sanson interjected as his husband sheepishly grinned. Fjora giggled; some things, it seemed, will never change.
With another squeeze of Haurchefant's hand she took the lead and started walking towards the girls, yelling at them to slow down so they could catch up.
Snow fell softly as they made their way across the plaza, filling every crevice on the ground in white. She tightened her scarf, then smiled in secret. There was nothing better than spending Starlight together with those dearest to her heart, surrounded by love.
