we said hello
Laniaitte meets her brother's best friend! Uh oh!
XIVRarepairWeek2025 - Day 4 - Safe Harbor | Uncharted Waters
Also on AO3.
Enjoy!
Laniaitte de Haillenarte sits with a sigh at her familyâs table and grips her warm cup of tea with content. Patrol was as uneventful as ever and sheâs grateful to be off duty for even just a few bells. And with Emmanellain taking up his late brotherâs post in Camp Dragonhead, she doesnât feel the need to watch over her shoulder every second while in the city for a spell.
She takes a sip of her drink and lets out another long sigh with a smile, rolling her head back and closing her eyes; moving to get any tension she can out before having to put back on the chainmail. She didn't mind it really, most of the time, has worn it so long now it feels of second skin, but sometimes it felt especially stiff on colder days.
As if knowing she didn't want to be disturbed the door to the dining room swings open and in strolls in her dear older brother, voice and laugh assaulting the room.
"Oh," Stephanivien delights, "Look what the gaelicat dragged in! Hello sister dearest," he finishes. Before she can protest he's putting his lanky arms dramatically around her and sealing the theatrics with a big kiss to her forehead.
"Ugh, Steph," she whines, doing little to hold back her giggling. It's rare that anyone from the Haillenarte's are in the same place for longer than a few minutes, and there were times up while in the Sea of Clouds where she missed it. She loved her duty to her house and loved those stationed up with her, but some nights, especially on warmer evening, she thinks about the summer's of eld she shared with her brothers. All of them. And yearns for it back.
"Ah! Manners yes â Horskfyr," Stephanivien continues, shaking her out of her daydream, "This is my dear sister! Dear sister, this is Horskfyr!â he finishes.Â
Rolling her eyes she turns her focus now to the man she only just noticed to also be in the room, which was surprising, considering his stature. He was a large roegadyn man who wore his dark brunette hair the same Artoirel did with a beard that ran along his chin to boot. His eyes were a warm brown and he seemed to have perpetual red markings across his face. It matched well with the cute dusting of black below his nose.
'Cute?' she catches herself thinking. Shaking the thought far away she stands and gives a small curtsy to this Horskfyr and then sticks out her hand. âLaniaitte," she emphasizes, giving Stephanivien a look, "Since my brother kindly forgot to mention,â she finishes with a smile.
Horskfyr stares at her hand a long while as an awkward air begins to fill the room. She clears her throat and his about to pull it away when he finally takes it. She notes how soft his hands are, comparing with a little embarrassment that hers are more calloused.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," he says. His voice is just as soft, not at all match his frame.
Their hands drop as she gives a laugh, "Oh you needn't be so formal," she says, "Though it might not show in personality I am actually younger than others in room."
Stephanivien scoffs beside them, "We all can't have my youthful glow," he says, batting his eyes.
She catches Horskfyr make a crooked smile and it showed a dimple or two at his cheek. There was aught else she felt compelled to do but stare. Awkwardly, they make eye contact and in a rush they both look away.
One look towards her brother and she wishes she didn't as there's an amused look on his face.
"Well I should be getting back," she mutters.
"Oh so soon," Stephanivien sing songs.
"Yes," she says shortly. She glaces a look at Horskfyr again and gives another curtsy, "Lovely to meet you." Before she is given any response she is out of the room and walks as far away from the encounter as she can.
A few weeks pass and she's almost forgotten about it until by some trick of fate, she sees the man again coming towards her. It takes a moment but his face twists into equal recognition
"Oh. Hello," he says, "I come with food. From the Vanu Vanu."
"Oh," she says, amusement pokes at his face. She gives an awkward laugh, "I see. Thank you you can distribute them if you please."
He gives a nod and hands her one. She reaches out and takes it with a smile, careful to not touch his hand anywhere. Embarrassment once again washes over her.
This was so silly. She didn't know this man. Why he was able to get this unseemly reaction from her so quickly wasâŠconfusing. As well as exciting somehow.
He finishes distributing the meals and turns back to her, "Also," he says, "Your brother has shipments to drop off. He left them with me. IâŠthey're back at Cloudtop.
'Oh Steph! Always one to meddle' Laniaitte thinks. She smiles and nods, "Excellent, thank you. Sorry he made you come all this way."
He shakes his head, "Was no trouble. What I'm here for," he answers. She wants to know exactly what he means by that but lets it slide.
Horskfyr gives a small wave and heads back. The lunch he brought still rests heavy in her hands.
That would not be the last lunch he brings her in the coming moons. There were even some days he would have one of his own and so they ate together. She found he was rather good company as they would often talk about the going ons in the Clouds. He's apparently grown fond of the Gundu and has been helping them as best he can establish themselves among the other tribes. She found it sweet, much like everything else about it.
He has quickly become the highlights of her days whenever he's around, which scared her. She didn't know what it all meant or if he even felt the same, so she tries her best to squash it out when she can.
A few days go by and he comes to her now with lunch and what appears to be a fishing rod strapped to his back.
She cocks an eyebrow, "A little bonus adventure today I see."
Horskfyr smiles and shrugs, "You ever been," he asks.
"Oh long, long ago," she answers.
"Would you like to join me?"
She blinks, "H-here?"
He laughs, "There's plenty of fish up here," he says so matter of fact she has no choice but to believe him.
Lainaitte nods and her stomach does a flip as his smile grows bigger. She hands off her post and follows him to a far away ledge. The wind is colder sround the edges of the islands and she shivers as she sits down on a rock nearby.
She watches in amusement and awe as he casts the line. For the life of her she can't picture any sort of marine life within the clouds, but she supposed she had seen Vanu fishing before up on the far northern reaches, but even still.
After a moment he sits next to her, rod situated between them.
"And now the fun part," he mutters.
She laughs as a memory comes to her, "I remember now. Father tried to take us on a family fishing trip when we were all still teens and Francel even youngerâŠStephanivien lasted all of two bells before trying to upgrade the rod to try and make it cast faster. Father was horrified," she explains.
Horskfyr lets out a laugh, "That I can believe. I've seen his workshop," he says.
"He's always been that way," she muses, "But I wouldn't have him any other way," she confesses. Looking over at him her eyes widen, "Don't tell him I said that."
He smiles, "Your secret is safe with me."
A thought comes to her to try and distract from the sincerity, "What of you? Do you have any sibling?" she asks. He stiffens and it makes her tighten as well. "Oh. If it is something that is difficult you don't-"
"I have one sister," he interrupts with a smile and now a blush rises to his cheeks and by the Fury she feels like such a silly girl having to bite her lip and look away. She hears him clear his throat, "You, uh, know her actually I think," he says sheepishly. "Sometimes goes by the Warrior of Light."
Any bashfulness inside her vanishes as she snaps back to look at him with eyes wide, "YouâŠI'm sorry you mean Freyalin?"
"The one and only," he answers. There's a proudness in his stance now.
She has not seen the Warrior of Light really much at all since she was up helping quell the threat of Bismarck. When she put a final halt to the war it was all anyone could talk about. Still talks about. "Oh," she says, "IâŠwhat was that like?"
Horskfyr gets rigid again as he stares out into the Sea of Clouds. "We only met recently," he begins, "MyâŠour parents did an unkind thing to her when she was young. MyâŠour father said as much on his death bed," he closes his eyes. She watches his face intently as it works through various emotions. Her chest tugs. "When her journey brought her to Sharlayan I couldn't, didn't know what to think but one day after it all settled down I finally approached her and well. We have each other now."
His voice fades out at the last sentence. While his eyes are still closed she reaches out a hand and places it on his wrist. At the contact his eyes open and focus on the placement. He moves his other hand to land gently on top of hers.
"I am glad for you. The both of you. Family isâŠwellâŠimportant," she says. The rose shield at her back gains an onze or two of weight.
"It is, I am quickly learning" he says softly. Laniaitte looks up at him to find him already staring. His soft eyes look almost conflicted as they search hers. No matter how much she tries to shake it she feels as if she's back at her first House Ball and fiddling with her dance card. Movements that are so foreign yet ingrained in her.
As if a gift from the Fury whatever moment they may have is dispelled when the line on Horskfyr's rod tugs and he rushes to grab it. She leans up and away from him as he stand to reel it in. After a few beats of struggle a small, bug eyed fish appears dangling on the hook.
"A bubble eye," he observes. He removes it off the hook and releases it easily back into the cloud. She can't help the look of question on her face. Horskfyr smiles, "It's too small for anything usually," he explains, "No use in making it suffer more than it needs. Just toss those ones back."
Laniaitte nods thoughtfully. Then, "You say you've only been around here for a few moons, yet you seem to know so much."
He nods sheepishly, "Was born actually not too far from here. Just outside a place called Idyllshire. B-but you're right, I left there when I was barely able to walk. That's when we set sail for Sharlayan proper and there'sâŠwell, a lot of books there. And ocean, being on an island. Fishing of all kinds always, I dunno, interested me."
She smiles, "Well it suits you," she says, more to herself than to him but the way his cheeks and the tip of his ears tint he heard her. She stifles her laugh and gives a sigh, "I should be getting back," she says, "Thank you as always for the company, Horskfyr."
He smiles, "Of course, uh, let me walk you back," he says quickly, already halfway packed up his things.
The trek back is silent but comfortable. He extends his arm and she takes it, her fingers resting gently on the fabric of his shirt. Careful to not observe how strong his arm feels underneath.
They reach their destination and Horskfyr does a mock bow as he drops his arm. Laniaitte does all she can to not pull him back in.
âThat was very kind of you. Thank you,â she says. Before he can respond she does close some distance between them, leaning up just enough to plant a kiss to his cheek. It has its intended effect, as she watches his face turn even redder, but the air quickly sours.
âIt wasnât anything,â he replies back, pointedly not looking at her.
Laniaitteâs heart quickly begins to beat as his face twists uncomfortably. She steps away from him, now feeling she did something wrong. She clears her throat, âWell. I won't keep you any longer, Horskfyr,â she says. When he doesnât respond she looks towards the ground and wishes it would swallow her whole.
Suddenly, her wrist is caught by his hand and she lets out a small gasp. Eyes turning up to meet his, she sees that same conflict from before still flash in them. Wordlessly she readjusts and takes his hand in hers; giving a gentle squeeze.
She waits and watches. After a moment he faintly leans in. Laniaitte stays still and lets him come to her. His lips do brush hers only just in a quick, fleeting ghost of a peck before he pulls away.
Confusion and disappointment swirl around inside her as she lowers her hand out of their shared grasp. The look on Horskfyrâs face is one of apology as he takes a step back and with a rushed goodbye he turns and leaves. The rest of her shift is done with a lump in her throat as she tries not to think about it.
â-
âWhat did you do to poor Horskfyr?â Stephanivien asks as he enters the parlor a few days later.
Laniaitte blinks, trying to keep her face neutral at the question, âWhat?â
Her brother scoffs, âHeâs been avoiding me ever since I sent him up with your supplies the other week.â
She opens her mouth and closes it a few times and decides instead to turn and look out the window.
Her hesitation doesn't go unnoticed by her older brother as she feels his eyes wide on her, âDid something happen?â
His tone is a mixture of genuine worry and genuine glee that causes her to let out a groan. "HeâŠwe kissed," she explains, still not looking at him, "I think."
"You think?" he all but squeaks, "Were lips put somewhere else besides-"
"Putain frĂšre," she cuts him off, looking at him now, "You mustn't speak so crass."
Stephanivien rolls his eyes and gives a look to simply continue her explanation.
"We kissed," she repeats, "I-I kissed him on the cheek first and he responded oddly. He leaned in and barely gave a peck. Like he wanted to but thenâŠ" she trails off. The sense of not quite rejection still looming over her.
"AhâŠ" Stephanivien says. He walks closer and take a seat next to her, "He at least responded in favor of your advances," he finishes.
Her eyes widen, "You-"
He cuts her off with a wave of his hand, "When we first met and became fast friends," he explains, "IâŠdid what I always do and kissed him thinking it was more. He was very confused," he laughs and that makes her smile. Picturing the poor man's face now. "He's thankfully the kindest sod I've ever met," Stephanivien continues, "And actually was the one apologizing to me about how he didn't mean to lead me on or the sort. Bastard just added insult to injury at that point."
"I can only imagine," she chimes in.
"Point is," he continues, "HeâŠhe hasn't spoken much about his past romances but I can tell something, someone was there and she's not anymore, for whatever reason."
She nods as a pit forms in her stomach, "I see," she muses. Her mind flickers to his eyes when it all happened. The conflict in them made sense now and she feels awful to be the cause of it.
Stephanivien puts a hand on her shoulder, "My dear," he begins, "The two of you have better chemistry than most I know. He just may need a bit more time. Matters of the heart oft do."
She can't help but roll her eyes at him, "When did you become such a wise old-"
"Ah ah ah," he interrupts, "I will have no sentence calling me old be finished," he says. He quickly stands and makes towards the door again. As he leaves he turns, "Good luck to the both of you."
He's gone without another word and she lets out a sigh as her mind wanders many different places.
A few more weeks pass before she sees him again. He walks up as he usually does, bag of food in hand. She takes it with a polite smile.
"Can we talk," he mumbles. There's a nervousness in his tone that matches her feelings.
Laniaitte nods and again follows him back to the same fishing spot.
He paces in front of her as she too thinks of what to say.
As she watches him open and close his mouth more than a handful of times she finally takes a breathe and steels herself, âI like you, Horskfyr,â she says. There's a squirm in her body and her hand itches to draw her shield and put it in front of her.
As each silent second passes she feels her legs shake. His expression is unreadable and a part of her isnât sure he even heard her words. Despite her better judgment, she continues. âAnd IâŠI thought youâŠyou mightâve felt the same.â
She does see his face twitch at the observation and his eyes finally meet hers. There's that same conflict raging in them again but now thereâs something else. Something almost like relief but she dares not think that.
Laniaitte takes a step forward and he watches, eyes shooting down to her feet, then back up to meet her.
âI do,â he whispers. So low she almost doesnât catch it as he takes a small step forward. âI do,â he repeats louder, a small smile creeping on his face. Itâs enough to get her to do the same.
The moment is fleeting as his face turns serious again and her stomach flips, "But?â she asks.
Horskfyr looks at her and gives a sad laugh, âI havenâtâŠâ he trails off. After a moment he grabs one of her hands. She notes the sweatiness of his palm. âItâs been a while since I felt this way for anyone.â
Laniaitte squeezes his hand, âI am sorry.â
He smiles and looks at her, shaking his head, "No please don't apologize. It is not something to be your burden" he says. The air is comfortable than what it first was, she lets out a content sigh.
They stare at one another a little longer and she sucks in a breath as she watches him eye her lips.
Like before, she waits for him to make the move and he does. Moving so he stands in front of her, he takes his free hand and grabs her chin. His fingers practically engulf the entire bottom of her face and it makes her laugh.
He smiles at the sound as he pulls her up and in.
Their lips meet and perhaps by now she shouldn't be surprised about how soft his are. It starts slow but she brings her spare hand up and places it on his touch, touching the skin that's there, sending a shiver up both their spines.
He repositions the hand on her chin and moves it down to wrap around her back, resting easily on her hip. She didn't feel so small in his embrace but she felt protected, warm, and she moves a hand into his hair to pull his mouth closer.
They stay like that a little while longer before she finally pulls away enough to take a breath. As she composes herself she looks up at him and feels heat rise to her cheeks at the pure look of adoration is clear on his face. She puts her head in his chest and smiles. His grip around her waist tightens. They say nothing to each other as they both listen to the winds in the air.
Laniaitte eventually gives a groan and pulls up to look at him, "I should be getting back," she whispers. To her shock he just leans down and kisses her again with no preamble before pulling back and giving a nod.
"Yes, I should be too," he says.
Neither go to move and she lets out a flustered laugh as she pulls back from him, already missing the weight of his arm around her.
Like before, he holds out his arm for her to take as they walk back in a charged, giddy silence.
They reach their destination and once more Horskfyr does a dramatic bow, which she answers this time with an overt curtsy. Laniatte realizes she's not sure where they go from here and it must be written on her face because he rests a hand on her cheek.
"I'll, uhâŠsee you later, then?" he says.
She nods, "You know where to find me."
He smiles, "That I do," he answers, leaning down and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Goodbye, Laniaitte."
She watches him make his way back to Cloudtop and lets out a sigh as he goes.
