Hello, it's me, you've maybe seen my art account shinzusdoodles in the tags but im back. With more sappy ass Haurchefant/oc stuff. HW spoilers of course.
The start od my Haurchefant lives au based on one of the first doodles I did of this ship. Alphinaud and Francel show up briefly. Information about Tivar and Zain is on my blog under characters! 😊
I would love to know if you liked it. 👉👈 I write a lot but don't share and if people like I would be so down to share more.
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Life in the infirmary was both quite and chaotic. Though the sun started to set, its golden rays gently falling across the bed through the curtain opening, the healers and doctors outside the door bustled around, because emergencies didn't stop when the sun went down.
Three days had passed since the incident at the Vault. Estinien, Alphinaud, and Zain had remained unscathed, but Aymeric, despite his best efforts, was coralled in his room by a team of healers seeing to his every need. Tivar's specialized and sensitive hearing picked up that he'd wanted to come visit those who'd been injured throughout the Vault, that he was fine now, but his words seemingly fell on deaf ears.
For how high his position was, the doctor's seemed none too keen on letting him walk out without a fight. Some of the few people in Ishgard who could say that to the captain of the knights.
Tivar turned his attention then to the bed's occupant: Lord Haurchefant.
His breathing was shallow and slow, his face deathly pale, his hand ice cold and lifeless when Tivar reached out to grip it. His whole torso was wrapped in bandages the healers needed to change twice a day. He had not yet opened his eyes or made any indication that he was conscious; Tivar's thumb gently rubbed his hand as he wondered if he'd ever open them again.
In the three days Tivar had been there by his side, the doctor's had told him not to get his hopes up. He'd survived the first night by a miracle after hours of hard work, but magic and stitches only went so far. 'It'll be up to him now,' one woman had said gently to both Tivar and Haurchefant's family. 'Sit with him now.'
And so they did.
Today he had been there for quite some time. When the family visited they didn't always swap out; sometimes it would be Edmont who stood silently beside Tivar, neither of them needing to speak a word, and when he got ready to leave he gripped Tivar's shoulder comfortingly before disappearing. A gesture not unlike his own father's.
Of course the brothers came, but Emmanellain, for all his effort, became distressed at the sight of his pale, mostly lifeless brother standing at death's door. They had never been close, to Tivar's understanding, but Artoirel always passed him a discouraged look as Emmanellain stood over Haurchefant, his fists at his side, lips pulled back, and brow furrowed. Tears welled up in his eyes as he struggled not to let them fall.
Tonight, Artoirel let Tivar know he'd take over from there and Tivar left them.
He didn't know where to go or what to do, as his friends and brother were working on finding Azys Lla. The scions were still nowhere to be found, Tataru was busy scrounging around for information in the Ishgard slums, and Urianger didn't need Tivar's meddling. So he retired to his room at the manor, where one of the servants had left hot soup for him and a well built fire as they always did when he returned so late at night.
Discarding his heavy coat on the back of a chair, Tivar started to settle in for food. Washed hands, side table moved beside the fire and window, and a handful of lights blown out to dim the lights. As he swirled the contents around with a spoon, Tivar couldn't help but sigh. He held his head in his free hand.
Was he stupid for being so upset over a man he'd scarcely known for a year? Zain, his rowdy and aggressive brother, had hardly seemed fazed by the results of their storm on the Vault. Alphinaud was upset, of course, but his dear friend was still a child no matter how prestigious and sophisticated and grown up he tried presenting himself.
Tivar finally tried some of the soup. It was good. His mind was simply wandering elsewhere too much for him to enjoy it, such as his past interactions with Haurchefant. His cheeks heated up, fingers sprawled across his face, as he vividly recalled how excited that man got every time he and Zain would show up to check on something or say hi.
Haurchefant never denied them anything if he could help it, always smiling wonderfully-- brightly-- at them, a positive beacon in the hellscape Coerthas had become.
The only major time Tivar recalled seeing him falter was one day a few months before they arrived in Ishgard; Zain interrupted him, as Zain tended to do, very loudly proclaiming "do you want to kiss us or something?! I don't know about Tivar. But I would. I would let you kiss me if that's what you wanted."
Every knight in the room stopped talking. Haurchefant stared at the two of them, his face bright red, eyes wide, mouth agape, stammering softly in pure /shock/. He composed himself quickly enough and only laughed it off, distracting himself with the papers on his desk, his cheeks still as dusted pink as if he'd been standing out in the cold without a scarf. He'd said something off handedly to the both of them, but Tivar heard nothing as he punched Zain, who was built like a brick wall and didn't even feel it.
The handful of times they had seen Haurchefant after, the man wouldn't look them in the eye. When Tivar caught his gaze one time, excited to see him again, Haurchefant sheepishly smiled and carried on his discussions with one of the other knights. On a different day his cheeks turned a light pink as the twins arrived, and Haurchefant found a new interesting thing to handle with someone outside.
Tivar sighed. A bastard or not, his friend most likely had his life planned out, and it, /most likely/, did not include Tivar's little fantasies.
He glanced out his window where street lamps glowed faintly against the freshly falling snow blanketing the city. It was long past midnight by now and the brothers had not yet returned home. This meant he had the rest of the night to himself. He didn't think he would be able to sleep, and barely choked down the soup so as to not go to waste.
The next morning he had made his way back to the infirmary after taking care of a handful of errands, his hands shoved into the warmest pockets of his coat, unused to his fingers being restrained by mittens or gloves.
Nobody had to be at the infirmary to sit with him, but even Haurchefant's childhood friend Francel, who stood there now, refused to let him be alone.
"Good day, Tivar," Francel said with an earnest wave and surprisingly cheery smile. "I didn't expect someone else here so early."
Tivar shook his head. "It's fine. I can go, if you want."
"No, stay. I think he would like to be surrounded with friends."
Tivar pulled up an additional chair that the healers had left in the room for them. He didn't know Francel quite so much, but they'd met before, and he held no ill will toward him. They ended up in comfortable silence as the clock ticked ever onward.
Haurchefant had just gotten fresh bandages. It may be a trick of the morning light, but Tivar thought he had more color to his face as well. He reached out to take his hand, but remembering Francel was there, he pulled his hand back.
It was then Francel who spoke first, his voice trembling. "He was always like that, you know."
"Always like what?" Tivar asked gently, his voice low and soft.
"He would do anything for his friends and to protect the people of Ishgard." Francel leaned against the bed. "To hear he ran ahead without hesitation to stop a bolt aimed at Aymeric, I am not surprised. I am sure he told you something along the lines if it being a knight's duty."
"As an outsider, that seems to be the Ishgard specialty."
"The dragoons especially are quite good at that, aren't they?
Tivar laughed. "My brother somehow wormed his way into being a dragoon so I can easily attest to that. He tends to do that often. Acts before he thinks."
"Dragoons and knights end up the same. It must come with the job. But... ah. Speaking of jobs, they're in the process of pulling him from the garrison at Dragonhead. Artoirel is looking for someone to fill in now as he handles the paperwork."
Tivar frowned, able to piece together what neither of them wanted to say: they're pulling him either because they don't think he will survive, or his injuries are too damaging.
"A pity. They're going to have to very well confiscate his uniform or he'll try to go out there himself."
Francel hummed in agreement. Through the hustle and bustle outside, Tivar caught the rhythm of familiar footsteps. His ear flicked as he turned to look at the door just as it opened to reveal Alphinaud, and behind him, Zain, who tried to take a drink out of a flask only to find it empty.
Alphinaud stopped between Tivar and Francel. He purposely avoided looking at his injured friend. "Apologies for the interruption. We know where the key to Azys Lla is, but we need Tivar's help, if he would be able to."
"I can," Tivar said hesitantly, glancing at Haurchefant out of the corner of his eye. "Just give me a few minutes to change into something more suitable for a fight."
Zain saw the glance, and nudged Alphinaud. "Wait outside if you would, kid."
"Hmm? Alright. I will meet you at the airship landing."
The silence was awkward. Tivar still wasn't used to seeing his brother around despite knowing each other again after ten years, and he could practically see the gears turning in Zain's empty head. Tivar couldn't possibly guess what he was trying to say.
Whatever it was, Zain opted not to say. Tivar leaned toward Haurchefant, this time not hesitating to gently take his hand.
"You want to stay with him," Zain said carefully. "But the key is held by a primal in Cloud Top."
Tivar clenched his jaw. "I said to give me a few minutes."
Zain wouldn't accept that answer. He was /looking/ for something. He didn't have the words to express it. His fingers clenched into fists as he mulled over what he wanted to say.
"You want to stay with him," he said again. "You like him, right?"
Tivar shot him a look, painfully aware of his heart beating faster in his chest.
Francel cleared his throat. "I believe he means to say, Tivar, do you love Lord Haurchefant?" He smiled at Zain, who gave him two thumbs up.
Tivar's face heated up a bright red. He jumped to his feet, loosening his grip on Haurchefant's hand, prepared to defend himself, only to be met with serious looks from the both of them. Unable to form words, Tivar kept stumbling over a flat denial; he realized, then, that the jig was up.
Brow furrowed, his voice fizzled out as his gaze darted from both of them, to Haurchefant, and back with an almost despondent look in his eyes.
"I-- I mean-- it wouldn't be possible--"
His ears picked something up again. Even Zain noticed, his gaze snapping to the infirmary bed.
At first it was a pained croak. And then, "don't...wait up for me..." Haurchefant mumbled.
Tivar almost jumped out of his skin. He felt Haurchefant grip his hand back lightly and his heart beat faster than ever. Haurchefant's fingers barely curled against his, but it was there, and Tivar's voice disappeared.
He leaned toward Haurchefant suddenly, a movement which caught the attention of Francel, who also moved closer. Zain stepped toward the door.
Haurchefant tried to speak again. His voice cracked so painfully from his dry throat he started coughing, then gasped and whimpered in pain, looking around as if he had no clue where he was. He struggled to sit up, his face paling suddenly, his free arm wrapped around his middection as pain gripped him.
For as grievous as his injury was, Haurchefant moved /fast/. Tivar reached out to grab his arm and he merely smacked it away-- with the strength of a toddler who couldn't control their own limbs.
Luckily for Tivar and Francel, while Haurchefant moved fast, he was not well enough to get out of bed. He gripped his head, swaying gently, and as Zain darted out of the room calling for a healer, Tivar and Francel each grabbed one of Haurchefant's arms and pulled him back down onto the bed. He continued to fight; on any normal day, the two would be no match for him. Today, though, he couldn't budge even Francel.
Haurchefant's bandages feathered with fresh blood. "Shit!" Tivar inhaled sharply, his gaze darting between the blood, the door, and Francel, who most definitely had no way to help in this situation.
"He ripped his stitches. A healer is coming now, I can hear them coming down the hall."
Though Haurchefant's face paled, he found an ounce of energy to reach out and desperately grab Tivar's hand. He opened his bleary eyes. "Tivar. Is Aymeric alright?" he croaked.
"Yes," Tivar said, a pained smile crossing his face. He gripped his hand back as if he would slip away at any moment. "Everyone except you made it out safe, but you're in good hands. Zain and Estinien are going after the archbishop."
Haurchefant, satisfied enough, relaxed against the pillow.
"Did you...really mean what you said?" he asked softly. One white mage started to work on him and his eyes drooped.
He needn't clarify. The doorway filled with multiple people running in, but Tivar stayed with him for one more moment, pulling his hand up in a second of pure impulse to gently kiss the top of his hand.
"Of course. I am no liar. Be good for your doctors."
In mere moments the room was bustling with healers and doctors. Haurchefant fell silent, but whether out of exhaustion or simply passing out they did not know.
Tivar and Fracel left the room immediately. They met Alphinaud down the hall, who must have stopped for a chat before leaving and stared at them with a raised and eyes wide in shock. Aymeric, disheveled and still in a loose tunic and pants, stood beside him in bewilderment.
---
It took an entire day for the infirmary to allow anyone to see Haurchefant again, the only person being allowed in his own father. Though it frustrated a good number of his friends and family, they quickly figured out why.
Haurchefant was simply too excited to be /alive/, too relieved that nobody else was hurt after the run in the Vault. The doctors were beside themselves with worry; he hadn't yet ripped his stitches /again/, but unless he was watched over carefully, he may attempt to sit up before he was ready. During the night he required a sleep medication that made him drowsy for most of the next day.
Over the next few days that Haurchefant was conscious, in those scant few hours that were easy to miss, they opened the doors to visitors, but only if they remained calm. Zain and Tivar arrived as soon as they were back from Cloud Top, Tivar damn near busting down the door in excitement at seeing Haurchefant awake and sitting up, propped against a mountain of pillows.
He couldn't speak before Tivar threw his arms around him in a tight hug. Tears welled up in Tivar's eyes.
"Never do anything stupid like that again or I'll kill you myself!" Tivar cried.
Haurchefant blushed deeply. He made a fist in triumph though, forcing a smile. "You succeeded. That's what really matters."
Tivar pulled back, his brow furrowed. Haurchefant saw the tears fall down his face and stammered.
"Don't cry. I--"
Tivar exhaled to calm himself, his eyes closed. When he was ready he caressed Haurchefant's face in his own hands, staring into his beautiful, tired blue eyes for but a brief moment. He kissed his cheek, his forehead, and then his lips, unable to help himself in his relief that he would he alright.
Because his horns were somewhat awkward he pulled away shortly after, resting his forehead against his.
"I told you not to do anything stupid like that again. You had your entire house and all your friends worried."
"Damn it Tivar you broke him," Zain sighed.
Haurchefant's tired eyes grew wide, his face redder than Tivar had ever seen it. His hand pressed gently against his cheek where Tivar kissed him and he avoided Tivar's gaze as Tivar took his free hand in both his own, his brow furrowed.
Though Tivar first thought that he had gone out of line, his heart beating painfully in his chest, his fears were quickly squashed when Haurchefant looked back at him, beaming from ear to ear.
"I...don't think I can promise that but... I'll try for you."
