I had a few different ideas for how this one could go - Doma, Ala Mhigo, even the assault on the Crystarium. But the more I thought about it, the more I was like well fuck it, cute shit between E’andhris and Alisaie it is. This is the third prompt for FFxivWrite2020, for which I am terribly behind on.
Definition of muster
1: to cause to gather : convene
2: to amount to : comprise
3: to fall forth : rouse
"Alisaie," E'andhris Tia began, then abruptly stopped. His jaw opened, closed, then opened again before it clicked shut audibly. He felt his ears flutter irritably and his tail lash to the side as he wrestled with himself. There was a request he had wanted to make of her for quite some time, but the timing always seemed off somehow. Or more aptly, his not inconsiderable courage always failed him just as he’d resolved to ask her. He never was good at discussions involving his own feelings, preferring to focus instead on those he cared for and letting his actions speak for his own affections.
Shit, she was looking up at him expectantly now. His gaze searched all around their surroundings as he wracked his brain for something else to say, avoiding her gaze. “Yes, what is it, E’andhris?” she asked, leaning in with a slight frown.
"Ah - I just wanted to thank you for inviting me along to see Ga Bu,” he finally replied. His odd-colored eyes settled on Limsa Lominsa’s large crystalline aetheryte, and he chewed his bottom lip. He squinted in frustration at himself.
Alisaie bumped against his hip none to gently to force his attention back down to her, then shrugged when she caught his eye. “Of course! I wanted you here. I mean, you were there after all. You ensured Ga Bu’s safety after Titan and everything else was all said and done, and I’m sure he’s happy to see you.” More softly, she added, “I still want to bring Alphinaud for a visit, but you’re just as good, E’andhris.”
The seeker’s heart twisted in his chest and he tugged the short elezen into his arms for a brief squeeze. “You can call me Andhris, if you like,” came out of his mouth unbidden as he released her from the impulsive embrace. His ears pinned back as anxiety rushed in.
"Oh,” she breathed in surprise. “That’s um...a big deal for Seekers of the Sun, right? Matoya’s the only person I’ve ever heard refer to Y’shtola without...”
E’andhris nodded, feeling the back of his neck begin to heat. “We tend to reserve it for those we’re close to,” he explained numbly, his gaze wandering once again to the aetheryte. He pushed down the instinct to fight or flee. “Friends and...family.”
“Andris,” he heard the young woman test out on her tongue. He wasn’t completely able to smother his soft snort at the slight mispronunciation, but then most non-miqo’te seemed incapable of the faint hiss required to properly speak his name. It didn’t stop the smile that crept along his lips, nor the giddy flick of his ears. The last time someone had called him by his proper name had been- “I can’t say I’ve ever heard any of the others drop your clan letter before, Andris. Have you asked them, or am I the first?”
The heat spread up from his neck and across his cheeks. “Ah,” he said, stalling for time as he ducked his head in embarrassment. “I did ask Minfilia, once. Before everything went to shit in Uldah and everyone scattered to the wind,” he said softly.
Alisaie let out a sharp breath and her hand found his to give a tight squeeze of silent comfort. “What about Alphinaud? The two of you always seemed so close.”
“Hm, I was never able to muster the courage to,” he admitted slowly, shaking his head.
The two Scions stood quietly for a long moment before Alisaie finally cleared her throat. “So! You think of me as family, then? That’s really quite...sweet.” When he chanced a glance at her face, he was vaguely surprised by just how pleased she looked.
“Well, I’m not likely to have any kits of my own and...” the Warrior of Light trailed off abruptly as he realized what exactly his traitorous tongue just implied without leave of his brain. His blood rushed in his ears, his tail lashed frantically, and he gave Alisaie a panicked look. She just stared, jaw slack in surprise.
"Wait. Wait wait wait. You think of me as your child?” she hissed when she finally found her voice again. “For how long? Do you feel the same about my brother? Is that why you’ve always kept such a close eye on us?”
As she hounded him with rapidly fired questions, E’andhris tried to will the ground to open beneath him. Failing that, he settled for staring at his sandals and gave a helpless nod. “For you, at least,” he began with a heavy sigh. “It began when we met Ga Bu, honestly. That night under the stars.”
Alisaie echoed his sigh and squeezed his hand hard until he looked at her. “Andris, we have a father. Although,” she quickly interjected when his gaze sank again, “I do consider you family as well. I know Alphinaud does as well. Just...as more of a cool older brother.”
The miqo’te mage felt the corners of his mouth tug up at that. “Am I cooler than Alphinaud?” he teased, making Alisaie laugh sharply.
“Oh, much more, but who else could compare when you’re the Warrior of bloody Light?” She bumped hips with him again, trying to further rally his spirits. “Being the child of such a famous hero wouldn’t be so bad either, though. I don’t mind if you see me that way.”
He let out a sigh heavy with relief this time, and leaned playfully against her. She grumbled, forced to shift her balance to avoid them both falling over. “Thank you, Alisaie.”
Her cheeks bloomed red. “Yes, well. I’m your favorite child, right?”
E’andhris laughed warmly and gave a thoughtful hum. “A good father wouldn’t pick favorites,” he said lightly, grinning at her pout. “But maybe I’m just alright.” It made Alisaie cackle in utter delight as she pulled him along by the arm.
“Well let’s head back to Mor Dhona, father dearest. We’ve much to do.”
Her room at the Quicksand was small and modest, it served it’s purpose whilst her home was under renovation and repair. She couldn’t stay at the small house in Shirogane that the others could -- there were too many things that reminded her of the hallucinations that Jun’s father concocted and cast. She’d sooner move in with Alistair than live in that nightmarish hell.
Considering it had taken her a week to force herself to look in a mirror...yeah. Fuck that place. If Emeline and Jun weren’t so wrapped up in it, she’d fucking light it on fire herself.
She met her teal gaze in the mirror, noting how she was slightly paler and there were darker smudges beneath her eyes. Twelve, she was tired. She ached from sitting too long in chairs that were far too uncomfortable with Alistair, her mother, and Lady Noni. A low groan came from her as she pinched the bridge of her nose; the headache she had been fighting on and off for the past three days threatening to start up again.
All of them had been targeted by...whomever was after her. Either it was the same asshole cultist who was pissy about her possessing a certain journal or her list of enemies was beginning to lengthen more than she realized. Alistair had cornered her at the end of the four day stint of meetings, but she had managed to dodge the back hand and he had ceased his attempts when Lady Noni came out of the room with after bidding her mother goodbye. He was livid at the interruption to dealing a punishment he thought was just. She had felt a pulse of aether from it and her own miniscule amount threatened to curl through her veins to rise in defense. She had never felt her brother’s aether rise with such speed before and it caused more wariness than before.
She had been grateful to get the hell out of there.
She stared at herself in the mirror and began to apply her make up, prepping for the nuptials of Corsa’ir and Katalin this evening. She was losing her edge, her quick wit and silver tongue were dull. That was evident with the cool and tense conversation with Mafrea and Emeline last week, the results of it left her feeling like she was on uneven ground with the two.
She was making mistakes left and right and it was starting to show; family, both of blood and of spirit, were suffering because of it. It was time for a reset, time to take a leaf from her favorite -- no, from Mafrea’s book. Emotions meant less control and she had to rectify that.
Rose brushed out her hair, reaching for the small bottle of Azeyma’s Rose oil and poured a little into her palm. She rubbed her hands together, threading them through her ebony locks to smooth them and take away and flyaway strands. Perhaps, she would recuse herself for a handful of days and take the time to handle things. Mayhaps, in doing so, she would draw the focus away from both parties. She could ferret out the seedy bar that the one hired fighter had spoken of. Some hair dye, different clothes, and some dirt would go a long way to change her appearance. Seven Hells, perhaps she could pick up the leve herself and confront the enemy?
She had to start thinking logically and plan. Gods, she was better than what she had been. She met her gaze in the mirror as she braided her hair back, twisting several lengths upward and pinning it in place. She smirked faintly; high risk meant high reward. It was time to handle her shit.
Leeja woke up gasping for breath and soaked with sweat as she looked around the room in a panic. She took a shaky breath as she sighed and slipped out of bed, grabbing one of Thancred’s discarded sweaters and pulled it on. She thought sleeping in his room would make her feel better but it only served to make it worse. Her dreams were once again plagued with Zenos and Elidibus, as well as the Scions falling and Ghymlit Dark. She’d be dead were it not for Estinien and she knew thanking him would be pointless, he wouldn’t accept it and would scold her for not being careful. She quietly made her way downstairs to Dawn’s Respite, knowing she’d probably be told off, though she didn’t care.
She fiddled with the sleeves of the jumper that was a tad too big for her, then again most of Thancred’s clothes were. She opened the door quietly and went inside, feeling horribly uncomfortable about how quiet it was. Coultenet, Krile and Master Matoya had left for the night, yet Leeja wasn’t alone. She looked over and noticed Kela sat with Alisaie as she quickly wiped her eyes, not wanting to show she had been crying, giving her a weak smile. “Can’t sleep either?”
“No, I’m just worried and scared.” Leeja nodded a little and sat on Thancred’s bed quietly. “What about you?”
“Nightmares. Ghimlyt, mostly. Replaying the entire thing over and over with a different outcome and it’s too much. I thought sleeping in his room would help but I think it’s made it worse” she ran her fingers along the inside of wrist, tracing his veins gently.
“I’m glad Estinien got to you, gods know what would have happened otherwise” Kela sighed quietly. “I hope they’re okay, wherever they are.”
“How is it I always end up looking after you on bed rest, [Moonbeam]?” She spoke quietly before she began to sing softly in Hannish. Kela listened quietly. She had never heard Leeja even mention a word in Hannish, so hearing her sing was a surprise. It was relaxing.
“That’s beautiful, I didn’t know you knew Hannish songs?”
“Oh… No I was born in Limsa but grew up in Radz-at-Han my whole life, Common is mostly a second language for me.”
“What was it you said?” She attempted to copy the word, causing Leeja to giggle quietly.
“Close, it’s pronounced [Moonbeam]. It’s um… Gods don’t tell anyone because it’s so embarrassing. It’s a pet name I gave him a while ago” her face burned red as she buried it in her hands. Kela chuckled and smiled .
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“It…” she sighed for a moment. “It came up by mistake once during sex.”
“Before or after you were sneaking about together?” Kela smirked a little. “No, Y’shtola didn’t tell us. We worked it out by the fact that you both smelled strongly of each other after you had ‘been away for duties.’ Leo called you out as well” Leeja groaned in frustration.
“I hate you all. I rarely use the name anymore. Maybe I should when they come back…”
Kela watched her behaviour and smiled softly. “You love him. No correction, you’re in love with him. You’ve not said it though.” Leeja froze at her words.
“I– No– It’s not– Argh! Gods dammit you’re right and I can’t even tell him!” She took a deep, shaky breath.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean–”
“No, no it’s not you it’s me” she sniffled. “The worst part is, he’s probably completely aware and is too polite to say anything” she hugged her knees tightly. “Can I confide in you? And not tell anyone?”
“Of course you can, you know I’ll keep a secret.” She frowned as she watched the dancer turn and face her, looking completely vulnerable and terrified. She’d never seen it on her before. “Leeja?”
“I… I feel so useless. They’re right here but they’re not here and I feel like I could have done something more. I want to help, I want to help try and find them but I can’t because I’m not smart enough to know where to begin” she looked at her as tears filled her eyes. “Why can’t I keep them safe?” Kela got up quickly and went over to her, hugging her tightly.
“There’s only so much you can do, you’re doing your best and no one is denying that. No one” she rubbed her back soothingly. “It’s alright.”
“But i-it’s n-not! They’re gone. Again! Because I couldn’t keep them safe.”
“It’s not your fault, you have no control over these things. You need rest, you’re exhausted and emotionally drained. The last few weeks have been a lot.” Leeja knew she was right, there was no denying that. Her return to the Rising Stones after leaving Ishgard was enough to make her aware of how many people were her support and her family, yet the 6 people in that room were her core family and without 5 of them, she was completely lost.
“Why does this feel like the Bloody Banquet all over again?” She was met with silence.
Kela hugged her tightly until she finally ran out of tears to cry. “There you go. Come on, you need sleep.”
“No… Nightmares…”
“Don’t make me cast a sleep spell on you. Curl up next to Thancred and sleep for a while” Kela watched her do as she was told, gripping onto his shirt tightly. “Watch over him like he watches over you. I’ll be with Alisaie if you need me, alright?” Leeja nodded quietly and finally fell asleep. Kela sighed softly as she watched the sleeping Warrior of Light and worried.
