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blindingspark · 10 months

Text

Flowing

The Warrior of Light settles down for the evening, their mind ever turning from recent events, and finds an unexpected visitor in their wake. Rating: Mature-ish [Safe to assume anything w/ Zenos will warrant a mature rating even at the most mild] Pairing: Zenos/WoL Notes: A HUGE thank you to my friend Remi for his input and knowledge on tending wounds accurately! This doozy of a fic was originally meant to be posted w/ accompanying imagery but circumstances have resulted in that being postponed |D I'll update this as soon as they're completed! Contains spoilers from the end of 6.0 and 6.X patches!

There was a certain peace to be found in an evening rainstorm, the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops against window panes and echoing from the rooftops was enough to put the weary mage's mind at ease.

Their tail swayed idly as they stirred a bit of honey into their freshly made tea, the fruity scent wafting upwards and offering its comfort as their mind steadily turned; months had come and gone since facing the epitome of despair, putting an end to the Final Days once and for all only to find themselves swept up in another swarm and impending threat within the Void. It was safe to say the now-former Warrior of Light would only know true tranquility when they started going grey- a thought which made them chuckle to themselves bitterly.

Their thoughts continued their travels, thinking of their new companion… the connection she bore and the turmoil and guilt Auri felt swirling within their chest when they thought of their approach to her.

You will not be able to avoid her perpetually, they thought, You know full well she is not Zenos, and that it would be cruel to treat her as such despite your own connection.

The steady stirring motion stopped, with the au ra glowering at their teacups contents; try as they may otherwise, some stubborn piece of them clung to the past, a mocking reminder with each remembrance that they had failed again. Again.

A heavy sigh left them, stepping away from the counter in the small kitchen area and returning to their spot curled up upon the sofa, the crackling fire in the mantle warming the humble abode with ease. Their small paissa companion slept peacefully, nestled in a blanket opposite of where they sat and having far fewer woes than his owner… Auri's bitter expression softened as they watched the little creature rest, reaching over to gently pet his tuft of longer fur atop his head-

A heavy sound beyond the door caused them to still, looking up and listening intently. Their mind shifting in its racing thoughts, perhaps another resident dropped something, if not fallen…

The sudden banging upon the door that followed startled the paissa awake, the sound of his tiny claws scratching along the floor being heard as he darted to the safety of his tower and looked to his owner for protection; Auri stared wide at the door, setting their tea aside and grabbing their staff as they carefully stepped towards the entrance, their tail now flicking with nerves.

When a second knock did not come, the mage tentatively leaned in close, listening for any other sounds beyond their home… a faint creaking of floorboards, as well as the door- their brows knit together, was there someone leaning against it?

Auri scowled, checking the chain lock on the door before they grasped the handle,

"Who is this?" They asked, loud enough for the mysterious visitor to hopefully hear.

A long moment of silence.

"Who-"

"A… friend." The newcomer replied, Auri's scowl deepening as the voice was almost… familiar.

Surely not… They thought, There's… there's no way…

"...Step away from the door." They ordered, earning a brief silence in reply followed by a muffled grunt as the door creaked once more, allowing them to open it slightly and peek out.

A chill shot through their being as they looked upon the massive cloaked figure, a face just visible enough to discern, soaked as he seemed to be.

The newcomer glanced up, his steady gaze settling on the sliver of them he could see,

"How…?" Auri muttered, staring wide at him in return and seeing him wince, his voice faint,

"I… had nowhere else to go, but I shall explain. If you will allow me-"

The au ra hurriedly set aside their staff and unlocked the door, pulling it open and finding themselves catching the garlean as he staggered into their home, guiding him to the nearby sofa before just as swiftly closing and locking the door again.

They lingered by the doorway, looking over their shoulder as they watched him shiver, reaching up to push the dampened hood from over his head and confirming their suspicions as his attention remained on the fire.

With careful steps, the mage approached the man they had thought dead once more- having breathed his last at the edge of creation, and stilled as he looked to them,

"I… forgive me my surprise in seeing you here, I had- I assumed you…-"

"Perished?" He finished, his voice hushed, "Aye, I was… I had, and yet…"

His attention drifted shifted back to the fire, his jaw set, "I was once again denied. The events after my return are… faint. Mere glimpses and recollections, all connected by a singular purpose."

The mage frowned, stepping closer and observing his garb, noting the torn state of his coat… and the way his left arm remained covered,

"Me." Auri replied softly, watching as his jaw clenched again, offering a faint nod to them in response.

"I wandered… back to this star, to find you. As I had done before, however-" he quieted with a growl, hunching slightly and shuddering, scarcely paying attention as Auri drew closer, placing a careful hand upon his back out of instinct, waiting until he eased before they spoke again,

"The fact you made it here is… remarkable," they said, their mouth pressing to a firm line as they studied the soaked cloak covering him, "... May I remove this? You will warm more easily without it."

He stilled, gaze remaining on the fire even as his expression softened a touch, shifting to push the cloak from his shoulders and allowing Auri to pull it away; they paused a moment as his current state was revealed to them, the most notable features being the somewhat healed slash across his chest from their duel and the transformed left arm which angrily pulsed with unbidden energies, his clawed fingers twitching before he balled his hand to a fist to nullify the sensation that seemed beyond even his level of tolerance. Auri uttered a small hum to themselves, dragging the cloak away to hang it and fetching a drink of water for the garlean on a whim, returning to his side and offering the glass to him.

A twinge of relief was felt as he took the glass, gulping down its contents like a man deprived and swallowing hard, his attention remaining on the fire until he spoke once more,

"Perhaps I am cursed to wander this star perpetually."

Their gaze fell to the floor, hands idly wringing and attempting to make sense of his circumstances with him,

"Your… former avatar, she-" they chewed on their lip out of habit, pausing a moment and noticing the way his head turned faintly to them, "We encountered her upon our visit to the Thirteenth, returned her to her original state, and she… has joined us. The tales she has told from her pact with you is…"

"Ah. My death released her from the contract…" he replied, looking to his transformed arm and turning his hand to study it, speaking matter-of-factly, "I'm certain there are many souls who would speak ill of me, curse my very name; they would be right to do so."

The au ra frowned and nodded faintly, looking to his hand and stepping closer,

"I… I find it curious how your arm retained this form despite no longer possessing an avatar," they murmured, "And given how you react to it, I'm to assume it's not pleasant."

He remained silent, observing the limb until its glow brightened, a faint crackle of void energies sparking and curling around his forearm like licking flames as he clenched his hand into a fist once more,

" 'Tis naught the pain itself," he said quietly, "But the way it manifests, it sears beyond anything I have known. Even the power bestowed by Shinryu does not burn so…"

By now the au ra had moved to sit upon the edge of the sofa, reaching to grasp his hand and carefully pulling it closer, sensing the way his attention settled on them as they traced the lines and fissures with their fingers,

"The contract formed between a reaper and voidsent is the primary method which allows them to manipulate the void energies itself. With your pact diminished it would have naturally dissipated, yet because you live again with no voidsent bound to you…" their lips pursed, brows knitting together as their fingers now brushed along his palm, "There is nowhere for this energy to go but outward- like a circle suddenly broken."

They noticed the subtle way his hand relaxed beneath their wandering fingers- partly relieved that physical touch did not further agitate the limb, though that would be set aside soon after as the mage pondered and eventually looked up to meet his gaze,

"Your fight against this power is only hurting you, it seems," Auri said, " 'tis hardly a power that can be controlled through force alone."

They placed their palm upon his wrist and turned to face him more fully, "Think of the voids power like... flowing water. If you stand in it, it moves around you and offers but a taste of its gift at a painful cost such as this, but…" they then traced their fingers upwards along his forearm, silently noting the way his breathing deepened in tandem, "If you allow it to flow with you like so, it will feel less unnatural. Allow yourself to sink into it but not so deeply you do not come up for air."

Auri looked up at him again with a faint yet warm smile, "It will feel as natural as your own strength with time."

Zenos remained steady on them as he listened, a faint acknowledging hum left him before closing his eyes and exhaling slowly, his hand relaxed as the angrily crackling energies slowly shifted to steadily flow along the length of his arm- the unnatural bite in the air that surrounded him easing through his efforts, "It is… warm. Potent all the same, and yet-"

His eyes opened as he looked to the au ra across from him, brows faintly knit together,

"...Why do you aid me so? To what end?"

They blinked owlishly at his sudden query and tilted their head, "Why…? I'm surprised you ask such a thing-" Auri paused, shutting their mouth and lips pressing to a firm line in deeper consideration, their gaze falling down to his hand which they continued to hold,

"I… I do not wish to see those I care for in pain, not if I have the means to ease it. Too many already view my attempts and choice of companionship as weakness at best," their voice trailed off, looking to his hand and pulling it closer to hold it to their chest, "I simply…"

The feeling of his clawed hand grasping theirs drew the au ra's attention upwards again, their eyes meeting and finding his expression… difficult to discern, even at such close proximity. Their mouth opened to speak, then shut, the disbelief of him truly living once more lingered even as they held his hand within theirs- felt the warmth of vitality with his presence like the warmth of an emerging sun.

With a deep inhale they stood from their seat and tugged on his hand, watching as he complied and rose to his feet soon after, eyeing them with silent expectation,

"Your wounds…" Auri said at last, "If you will allow me, I would tend to them before we… we decide what to do going forward."

The steadfast and slight crinkle in his brow was his only answer as he was led away from the seating, the soft chirping from within the hiding spot of the small tower hardly drawing his attention beyond comment,

"I was not aware you had a companion."

"Hm?" They perked slightly, looking to the tower and finding themselves unable to hide a charmed smirk at their small observer, "Ah, aye, he's rather recent; he's too small to be capable of surviving in the wild, but has quite the personality once he warms up to others."

The mage guided Zenos to their makeshift study, letting go of his hand to fetch their medical kit, "He arrived outside of my door one day worse for wear and in need of care-"

"It seems to be a recurring phenomena." He said flatly, giving Auri pause as they looked at him with widened eyes… a snicker leaving them soon after,

"Ah… that it does, given tonights events." They replied with a grin, returning with kit in hand along with extra supplies and setting it on the desk beside the garlean.

Auri sorted through the tools and solutions, ensuring they had enough of what they would need before turning to their visitor once more, eyeing his wardrobe and finding themselves fidgeting in hesitation,

"May I remove your coat? Or would you prefer to do so?"

A momentary silence floated between them, watching as he then reached up to begin the process of shedding the bulky garment- Auri's nose scrunched faintly as he slowly pulled away from the wound, wondering at the back of their mind how long he had wandered the star like this since his return. They held out their hands to receive it upon him shrugging the coat off the rest of the way, dragging it over to the seating across the room and draping it across the back before returning to his side, getting a better look at the laceration as he removed the undershirt he wore as well, setting it on the desk and looking to the au ra expectantly.

Their eyes traveled along his transformed arm, observing how it tapered and fused with his skin at the shoulder; gnarled tendrils of hardened flesh etched into his being and revealing that- if it were possible in the first place- healing and reversing such a change would take time.

The mage stepped closer to him, reaching to carefully examine the cut and hardly realizing the somber expression that had settled on their features,

"You seem distraught over your fine work, my friend." Zenos said, watching them wince at his word,

"It did not feel that way when it happened," they murmured, picking up a clean swab and dousing it with alcohol before setting to work on cleaning around the wound, taking care not to touch the broken skin itself, "As soon as I saw you collapse, my rage- my fear, disappeared and I felt only regret. I felt I had…"

They sighed and shook their head, changing swabs as they spoke, "I felt I had failed you a second time. That despite how much I had tried to not repeat my failure in the gardens, it would be a fruitless pursuit; that I would lose you every time."

"Do your companions know?" He then inquired, giving the au ra pause as they changed supplies, his seated position allowing him to be eye level with the mage. Auri sighed, shaking their head again and preparing a saline solution,

"No, as far as they are aware I accepted your challenge for a duel and came back barely alive as the victor. None of the Scions know about those last few moments- and if your former avatar is aware she has not spoken of it." They replied, holding a clean rag under the laceration and beginning the steady process of flushing the wound, catching the excess and contaminated saline as they worked their way down,

"Given how long you wandered, I'm pleasantly surprised there are no signs of infection…" Auri noted quietly, "And it looks as though the wound was already beginning to close before you arrived, we'll simply help that process along."

Zenos remained silent, stilling himself as they finished irrigating the wound and moved on to the next process, his own mind turning as he stewed on their words, barely acknowledging the way the small paissa watching them from his tower had emerged and crept closer to investigate the two.

The small creature clambered up a small stack of books and sat on his haunches, wide eyes observing them as he uttered small chirps before the garleans gaze landing on him caused the creature to freeze,

"It's alright, Shallot, he won't hurt you," Auri snickered, this time moving on to grab the sutures from their kit and began stitching the laceration, "I'll have to pay a visit to the chirugeons in the morn, fetch some extra supplies and preventatives while this heals."

"I'll be fine once you have finished, there is no need for-" he paused as their gaze snapped to him with a look of near-angered disbelief, their expression softening apologetically soon after and returning to closing his wound,

"Please, Zenos," they muttered, "Let me do this much… allow me to do right by you while I have the means."

The garlean lingered on them, eventually letting out a slow breath and adjusting at their coaxing touch so they could continue their work, observing them as they readied a small drainage for his wound and moved on to dressings. He had endured his fair share of tendings for wounds too big to bandage on his own, observed as Imperial medics reset bone, removed limbs and damaged organs from soldiers and generals alike, yet such sights hardly held him in the way his companion tended to him; the reason giving him pause more than the process itself,

"Why?" He asked, watching as Auri paused once more, looking to him in the midst of unraveling fresh gauze, "You had defeated me at the edge of creation, having paved the way for the Final Days to begin when I regained my body. After doing all that I could to tear apart what you held dear- if only for a taste of your fury… you would still open your door to me and tend my wounds."

The au ra stared in return, eyes wide as the air filled with a tense silence and broken only when they returned to bandaging him, focusing on their task when they answered,

"Perhaps it is foolishness on my part; young naivety in the midst of hope, or simply stubbornness inherited from my mother," they paused with a smirk, turning as they maneuvered around him to continue their work, gathering the length of blonde in one hand to move it aside, "Or perhaps I cling to what I saw in the man that would perish by his own hand in the gardens of Ala Mhigo.” The garlean reached up to nudge their hand and take over holding his hair, freeing their hands to continue bandaging him- the slight turn of his head indicating that he listened still, waiting as they navigated their thoughts, “I have tried to rationalize it all, every cruel action and how you see the world around you- the contempt and bitterness towards a star where you're surrounded by what feels tedious and grey. But… I suppose in spite of all my reasoning and wondering, I think of what I have gained in knowing you as well; my truest strength in might and in self, in ways I might have never known had we not met," Auri trailed off, securing the dressings and letting out a sigh upon stepping in front of him again, looking up to meet his steady gaze,

"Perhaps it is also selfishness on my end, but I do not think myself capable of hating you- not in the way you had desired for so long… and I have tried."

Habits of old emerged as they reached to rest their hand upon his cheek, their chest tightening as he studied them with a furrowed brow, slowly pulling their hand away in a rush of nerves only to feel him grasp their hand in return. His touch was tighter than anticipated, causing them to still with their breath held as they wondered what was going through his own mind- feeling his hold ease and pressing their hand to his cheek again, leaning into their touch and closing his eyes, “I have misjudged you, my friend," he muttered, his tone distant, “Sought in you a bloodlust that I would never again see firsthand.”

Such a revelation quieted the garlean for a long moment, sighing and scarce noticing how his companion mirrored the tilt of his head, studying his features at such close proximity before feeling their other hand reach to brush aside strands of blonde. His eyes opened to slits before looking to meet their gaze in full,

"You vex me endlessly." He said at last, his words met with a chuckle and shrug of the shoulder from the au ra,

"As do you…" Auri smiled, though it faded as their thoughts traveled to the last time they held him like this; bathed in the vibrance of the dawning light and the encompassing, tranquil silence.

They remembered little beyond the regret that washed over them after claiming victory, the way they clambered to his side to hold him close- their hands drenched in red and the aches wracking their body, and they remembered the way he looked upon them in his last moments, realization manifesting too late as the light faded from his eyes- the remnant flicker of his lifes flame extinguished once more…

A sigh slipped past Auri's lips, pulling their hands away with little protest from the garlean and began to pick through their first aid kit once more, "For the time, I think it more important that your attention remain on healing. There's likely to be questions and arrangements needed once word spreads about my… visitor."

"I find myself curious how willing your companions are to bend upon your request." he commented, watching them shrug with a faint bob of their head side to side in thought,

"Some would be open to… negotiate, and understand, others are likely to give a cold shoulder… I have already found myself losing allies and friends alike when questioned about knowing you." they replied, plucking the bottle of chosen medicine from the kit and pausing as the sounds of little claws and chirps drew their attention away from their task, greeted by the sight of the small paissa now at their feet gazing up at the two with orblike eyes; the mage snickered and reached to scoop him up, feeling his grasping hands cling to their shirt before he stared at their visitor, chirping softly while Auri gently brushed back the soft tufts upon his head,

"Admittedly, having a new face around will only be strange for a little bit," they said, looking to Zenos once more, "You are not obligated to be his caretaker should you stay for the time, though he does seem rather interested in you all the same."

His attention flickered down to the small creature peering at him, his brows knitting together, "Animal husbandry is rather removed from my skillset."

They carefully lowered Shallot to the floor to fetch a drink to aid him with taking the medicine, perking slightly as they heard the critter hop away instead of trailing behind them as he often did; the au ra paused after looking over their shoulder, watching as the little paissa approached the large blonde, silently staring up at the garlean with his twitching nose as his only movement. Their brow raised, slowly moving to refill a glass with water as they observed the interaction and ready to call upon their little creature to dismiss him if needed-

An initial, cautious touch to his boot with his small paw. The paissa stared up at him for a long moment still before placing his other paw upon his shoe, slowly working his way up to grasp for purchase and climb the garleans leg; Zenos's expression shifted to a faint, perplexed scowl while watching the critter, eventually- and rather slowly- reaching to scoop him up and onto his lap, a series of softened chirps escaped Shallot as he soon curled up and closed his eyes upon achieving his little victory with minimal fuss.

The garlean's expression remained, his attention shifting to the direction of Auri approaching once more, noting the look upon their face and receiving the offered drink,

"I can take him if you wish." They said, earning a small hum in reply before he focused on swallowing the medicine they offered,

"I take it he does not cling to others like this…?"

"Ah, no… not in the time I have had him. Though I seldom have company over beyond a caretaker when I'm called away." Auri then shrugged, taking the emptied glass and setting it beside the torn undershirt he had worn, lingering on the garment and picking it up to examine the damage,

"I will try to mend this as well, maybe fetch some more clothes while I'm resupplying in the morn. The tailors would most certainly have something for a man of your stature."

They draped the shirt over their arm with their decision made, closing the medical kit and returning it to its usual spot before the quiet drew their attention back to their companion with a curious look; watching as he took in the towering shelves packed with leather-bound tomes and worn folktale collections, his perpetual stillness remaining as Auri set aside the garment to quietly move and settle at his side again with hands loosely clasped,

"My collection is certainly not as grand as what may have been in the palace, but you are welcome to them all the same…” they noted, the softened smile fading as they watched him; having seen the intricacies and subtleties of his wandering thoughts up close in the past, they reached to turn his head towards them upon seeing those very tells, brushing some of the blonde away from his face once again as they did so,

"Shall I be enlightened on what now swirls about in that head of yours?" They inquired, answered by a sigh and feeling his head instinctively press to their palm,

"Naught that has not been answered already, 'tis simply the steps going forward that eludes me."

"Ah," a faint nod, "There was no room nor reason to consider an existence after our rematch, was there? That there was no room for you…" Auri's voice quieted at such a notion, "These days the star has no purpose for myself, truthfully. By all accounts I have spent my usefulness in halting the Final Days, and yet I continue on; perhaps you can find a new purpose- a new life here," they paused, jaw clenching before they reached up with their remaining hand to gently cup his cheeks, "A new life with me."

The mage shifted closer, their hold tightening slightly as they then pressed their lips to his- a gesture so brief it could have slipped beneath the untrained eye, yet one that was reciprocated upon the feeling of a large, clawed hand pressing to their back and pulling their body flush to his for another.

A tentative movement, unfamiliar but ever certain, mere moments felt like centuries when they pulled away a second time. The rising heat creeping upwards along their neck and to their cheeks as their mind swirled with a million thoughts; the relief of holding him in their arms once more, the winded explanations to their colleagues if- of when- they learned of his return, lingering fears of losing him again and again and again-

With a sigh their head tipped forward and pressed to his, feeling his grasp on the fabric of their clothes tighten,

"Stay… please," whispered Auri through a yearning hiss, "Do not make me lose you a third time."

"There is naught else here for me upon this star or any other beyond the soul standing before me." He replied, a sigh leaving him afterward, "If you would accept me once more…"

The mage smiled faintly in relief, resting their arms around his shoulders and carefully easing against him- a sudden disgruntled chirp capturing their attention as the small paissa had been disturbed from his slumber, hopping off the garleans lap and scurrying back to his tower before settling down once more. Auri let out a chuckle under their breath after, drawn back to their companion and resting their head against his,

"I will make a place for you here," they murmured, "A home… even if I must dirty my hands to do so."

#cata writes #otp: aurinos #zenoswol #zenos x wol #zenos viator galvus #zenos yae galvus #oc: auri brighteye #ffxiv #feat. a Very Good Sonion #sometimes you need a 'I had nowhere else to go' trope as treate

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blindingspark · 1 year

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The Hunters Moon

#gpose #otp: aurinos #zenoswol #oc: auri brighteye #zenos viator galvus #au ra #slaps the roof of my ship like a used car salesman: this bad boy can hold so much sun/moon and light/dark symbolism

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blindingspark · 1 year

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Motivation has been pretty sparse lately, and progress is slow for this fic so have an older Aurinos gpose in the meantime~

#otp: aurinos #zenos x wol #zenoswol #ffxiv #zenos viator galvus #oc: auri brighteye

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blindingspark · 1 year

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Shelter

A downpour over Thanalan's region urges the warrior of light and their companion to hunker down for the evening; personal revelations are wont to come to light in the ember glow of a warm hearth. Rating: Mature-ish [Brief mentionings of their love lives... or lack thereof] Pairing: Zenos/WoL Notes: A VERY lengthy revision of an older fic in the 'nebulous adventurer au', packed with emotional constipation, soul searching and most definitely rolling w/ my headcanon of Ace!Zenos [more specifically Demi but choo choo on the ace train] I hope you enjoy this labour of love!

A rare downpour had begun to cover the arid landscape of Thanalan, aided by the steady rumbling of thunder in the distance and putting a pause to the travels of two adventurers.

Tucked away in some forgotten little settlement, an au ra quietly padded around their chosen home to wait out the storm, using a spare rag to dry their rain-soaked hair, mind turning as they periodically looked to the front door. As if waiting for someone…

It had been a half a year since they began their travelling partnership, the contrast between the Warrior of Light and their towering ward had more than their fair share of trials and victories in such a short span of time; yet in spite of knowing his prowess fully, the mage still found themselves fretting over him-

The sound of the heavy door opening caused Auri to jump, magenta eyes wide as they looked to the entry- shoulders then relaxing as their partner ducked slightly to enter, pulling the hood back after closing the door and locking it,

"Not a soul for malms, save for a few starving beasts." The drawl of the garlean's voice seemed disinterested as always, reaching up to undo the clasp on his cloak and shrugging it off his shoulders to hang it beside Auri's smaller one,

"You were away for some time, I was beginning to worry you had wandered off somewhere." The mage teased lightly, turning to watch the former crown prince as he went about the process of disarming himself, noting the faint smirk on his lips,

"Alas, tempting though it may be, we are simply passing through this land," he glanced over, idly undoing the buckles and shedding the bulkier pieces of armor as he did so, "Our arrangement notwithstanding."

Auri nodded, watching him for a few moments more and letting the quiet within the house settle in before they spoke once more,

"I'm glad you're safe, regardless."

Zenos paused, only for a moment, and set the last of his armor aside. It was a strange and delicate dance between them even months into their partnership; Auri had lost count of the lingering looks exchanged, the small gestures from nestling into the garleans side during a long carriage ride to feeling his hand resting on the small of their back during their rare visits to resupply. The moments of battle when he practically surrounded them like a fortress, the tandem back and forth utilizing their respective skills of magics and pure might to a seamless point… all of it had served to deepen the rather strange bond they shared.

It was during the moments like these, however, in the late hours of quiet and safety that seemed to unearth the untouched aspect between them.

It was no surprise to Auri that his was an upbringing and life of distance, apathetic coldness and violence; such traits had made him a force of reckoning upon the battlefield- their past duels also serving as a testament as such.

Their travels, as the mage would come to discover, had served to slowly begin chipping away at an otherwise impenetrable front the garlean had lived with; much remained the same, from his eagerness for a challenge and the thrill of a 'hunt' to his restlessness when they negotiated terms and haggled for goods, yet the changes that could be noticed seldom slipped the au ra's eye. Lingering on tomes and art rich with tales of eld, salvaging a piece of treasure that glistened that he would offer to them- oft under the pretense of 'not needing such a trinket himself'- and a certain air of domesticity when they would settle for a time in their travels…

Auri's attention was drawn back upon hearing their name called, blinking owlishly and craning their neck as he stood no more than a few ilms away, hands on his hips and with a look that they could daresay bordered on curious,

"Wh… yes?" They muttered, watching his head cant to the side slightly,

"Ah, you didn't hear me after all," he sighed, "How long has it been since your last meal?"

"My last…" their brows furrowed, "Back in that encampment, why?"

"You were staring as though you were faint."

"I-" they then huffed, mirroring his stance while their tail flicked with faux offense, "I learned from your last grousing, sir!"

A sly smile then appeared on his lips, reaching up and brushing a few stray damp hairs from their face,

"Good. I'd rather you not collapse during our travels a second time." Zenos said simply, knowing full well his gesture was leaving the mage flustered, "What then, pray tell, had you lingering so, hmh?"

Auri's mouth opened to respond, then shut, pressing to a firm line as they thought and settled on a small shrug,

"Planning ahead, since it seems we're safe for a time we can take a breather, no?"

The garlean hummed, glancing at the nearest window at the low, crackling thunder outside their temporary home before turning his attention back down to his companion,

"For the night, at least."

"Always in a rush," Auri tutted, reaching up to ruffle their hair and sighing, meeting his gaze and offering a smile, "I suppose I'll go rest up in that case, and I trust you'll do the same, hm?"

Zenos looked them over, taking their word as rhetorical and making his way over to the nearby chair situated by the fireplace within the main living space and settling down- a silent addition to their arrangement was the garlean ensuring they slept on the bed wherever they settled, while he fully contented himself to sleeping in a chair. Lingering as they watched him begin unbuckling his greaves, Auri's attention quietly shifted to the fitted under armor which- much to their own surprise the first time- left little to the imagination, the slight flex and relaxation of muscle in his arms and shoulders briefly made them wonder what it would feel like to run their hands along the expanse without the bulk of armor in the way-

"Did you have something to ask of me," he inquired, never turning his attention away from his task as he moved to the other armored boot,"Or am I to escort you to bed as well?"

"I- of course not, worry about yourself for a moment!" Auri squawked, wringing their hands and muttering a softer 'Good night' to him as they sought out the house's bedroom.

Closing the door behind them the mage reached up and rubbed their face, letting a low groan leave them before trying to ready themselves for the night, shedding their gear and changing into a more comfortable tunic to sleep in- a momentary pause as they slipped it over their head, remembering the previous owner of the spacious shirt, the previous owner who was currently in the other room… slowly pulling it on and feeling a warm fluttering in their chest as they recalled him handing the shirt to use as an easy sleep tunic, though the 'why' was lost to them.

Only within the last month or so had they noticed their attention lingering on him in such a fashion; during their moments of closeness, exploring the other with their hands, the tentative exchanges as if to test the boundaries of their bond and arrangement; wondering what it could be like if they crossed those lines, though a hesitation remained ever present if there was more they simply had yet to experience with the other.

Auri clambered into bed with a sense of self-contained frustration, letting out a huff as their attempts to focus could have burned holes into the nearest wall,

Gather yourself, Auritel, he was assigned to be your ward as the condition for the Alliance sparing his execution for a time, what would they possibly think if they knew the depths of your bond with him? You feel safe around him, but the fact remains it simply cannot be-

Squeezing their eyes shut, the au ra shifted onto their side and attempted to clear their mind, idly chewing on their lip at a passing thought and hugging the pillow to them, a faint scent that lingered in the fabric of their sleeve drawing their minds eye: metal and leather, a hint of fragrant, floral oil that was subtle unless at a close distance, a familiar combination… the mage subconsciously buried their nose in the cloth and held the pillow to their face, quietly indulging in the ingrained scent. The intention of not letting their mind wander failing as they imagined the warmth, the solidity, the near-overwhelming presence of the man who had become an unexpected comfort during their travels surrounding them- nearly swallowing them whole like a vast sea.

Their eyes opened to slits as the lingering, uncertain feelings stewed within them while they stared at the rumpled sheets, listening to the pitter-patter of rain and soft rumbling thunder outside… and finding themselves no closer to sleep.

Slowly pushing themselves up from the bed, Auri's gaze settled on the door- listening for any signs of restlessness from their companion. Their brows knit together, noting instead the strange level of… quiet there actually was.

With their attention on the entry the au ra's legs swung over the edge, allowing them to stand and quietly pad over to the door, doing their utmost to open it with at least some modicum of delicacy.

The door creaked slightly as it was pulled open, granting the mage a glimpse into the living space and settling on the garlean by the fireplace. Illuminated by the fire within the otherwise low-lit room, Zenos seemed to have his gaze fixated on the flames, cheek resting atop his knuckles while his elbow was perched on the arm of the chair, one leg crossed over the other and appearing almost statuesque-

"Is rest eluding you as well?" The inquiry caused Auri to wince, startled out of their little dip into voyeurism as Zenos turned his head slightly to address them.

"I… suppose it is," they murmured, opening the door further to slowly cross the room, gingerly sitting in the seat opposite of his and suddenly feeling quite bare.

Of course they would notice the way his gaze dragged over them in this state, wearing only their smallclothes and the shirt he had given to them, the look feeling faintly akin to a scorching caress before his attention returned to meeting their gaze,

"I take it a strange dream has haunted you, or perhaps it is simple restlessness?" asked the garlean, his tone giving no indication as to what belied the look he had given, watching the mage shift in their seat with their hands loosely clasped atop their lap,

"Restlessness, for certain," Auri said, giving a faint grin, "I ah, I never did get to say… thank you."

His brow perked, though he remained silent,

"When I fainted, I mean. You reminded me that I never thanked you when I came to…" their hands began fidgeting with the hem of the shirt, "You could have easily abandoned me to the elements for such a lacking foresight-"

"I am your ward, abandoning you would simply bring down the executioner's blade that much faster. Though I care naught, I would at least wish to see to the end of our hunt before such a time."

"Ward or no…" they sighed, "You carried me to safety in spite of it, so I feel it's only necessary to thank you for doing as such."

A brief silence settled between them, with Auri's shoulders relaxing at the small nod he gave them. Apologies and gratitude were foreign to someone like him, that much had become plain in their travels, though the moments where he could accept and return such things were treasured, rare as they were,

"I'm certain your Alliance would clutch their pearls if they heard you say such things," Zenos said, the faintest signs of a musing lilt to his voice; Auri blinked with slightly wider eyes, "Just as they would upon seeing you in such garb, or lack thereof."

Bare feeling, and suddenly very warm.

The au ra stiffened, pausing in their fidgeting with the edge of the shirt,

"I… perhaps," they shifted in their seat, finding it hard to look him in the eye as his attention remained unwavering upon them, "Though it is not the Alliance's place to pass judgment on my choice of sleepwear or where I rest."

"But of course," he replied, "I only say as such given how you have chosen the tunic I had given you more than once… Surely you would wear any other if given the chance?"

Auri's tail flicked as they swore a switch had occurred while they weren't looking, now faced with a seemingly returned deeper attraction beyond what they had already explored. The small voice in the back of their mind reminding them of how poorly this could all end should the Alliance find out, having already tested their limits with their shared affections,

"I could. Yours simply gives me…" they chewed on their lip, "Comfort. A feeling of safety, even."

At their admission Auri waved a hand dismissively, as if swatting away the flushed feeling creeping up the back of their neck, "But, ah, if my wearing this bothers you in any way, I can surely find something... something else."

"Truly?" He smirked, "You flatter me."

Cool blue eyes lingered on them, almost observant in place of the distinct heat from before, as though he had yet to witness his companion in such a state of dress. Even after growing as close as they had with him during their secret meetings within Gyr Abania and now in their travels, Auri could readily admit they still found themselves startled at times at the sheer intensity of his gaze, even in a relaxed setting such as this; the au ra shifted again and curled their tail into their lap,

"You seem especially focused," quietly teased the mage, moreso to alleviate the lingering air of awkwardness they had felt manifest, "I know your mind turns in fascinating ways, perhaps you could… share your thoughts?"

A small hum, and his attention moved at last from their being to meeting their gaze in return, the faint scrunch of his brow indicating something had begun to gnaw at him,

"Have you ever been intimate with another?" Zenos's tone remained steady, watching as his companion gawked at the question,

"I…" Auri paused, briefly chewing on their lip as they considered their answer, "I have… only twice, however, with the same partner."

They then gestured to the lounging garlean, "And you? I'm certain there were many in the Empire who find you attractive and would have loved to share your bed…" the words dipped into a moment of nerves as they wondered if they were treading too far-

"Hmh… no." He said simply, earning an owlish look from the mage, a silence settling between them briefly before he continued, "There were many who vied to share my bedchambers in the palace when I came of age, some for their own gain, others who claimed similarities to find common ground and leaving much to be desired when pressed; I had sent away nobility and consorts alike… though I hardly remember just how many faces came and went in all that time."

Auri's expression softened as they listened, carefully fidgeting in contemplation, "I'm sure the pressure was its own annoyance… most royalty and noble folk I've heard tales of would take any to bed who caught their eye simply because they could."

A small huff of acknowledgement came from the former prince, "I could scarce understand this apparent need that so many claimed to harbor. I had been taught at a young age the purpose of intimacy for royalty: 'Twas simply for ensuring heirs, any additional pleasure was coincidental. I did not wish to sire and I felt no stir regardless of who was put before me, much to the apparent disappointment of many." He replied, turning his head to look at them more directly, noting their solemn expression, "Does that answer displease you?"

Auri winced, attention snapping up from their wandering thoughts and shaking their head, "N-no! It's not… that, per se, I've no reason to doubt or be disappointed by your word, I suppose it's simply… not what I had expected." They said quietly, sighing and examining him, "Between your striking appearance and place in the Empire's hierarchy, I had imagined a few would have caught your eye, but after an answer such as that… I must admit my heart aches."

"Aches…?" Zenos repeated, "For what reason?"

A moment of hesitation was soon followed by the mage letting their hands go slack and pressing them to the cushion on either side of them as if to steady themselves upon the seat, "Having to deal with such things… the expectations set upon one to uphold even if they care naught for it," their head tilted faintly as they looked at their companion, "Though… albeit with less severity, I'm sure, I suppose such things are another similarity between us."

The garlean was silent, though the faint scrunch upon his brow remained; wordlessly pressing them to continue. Auri exhaled through their nose, attention lowering to trace the swirls of the woodgrain in the floorboards, "When I was first deemed the Warrior of Light all manner of folk wished for my hand, especially as time went on and my travels took me far and beyond my simple beginnings with thaumaturgy."

Their expression hardened the longer they stared, "I discovered the fine line early on between who wished to bed me for their own gain and who seemed to have an earnest attraction, the latter being less… frequent."

"It would seem that snakes make their nests in any place that provides." He said, a slight distance present in his tone, "They would think themselves proud hunters when they are no more than shallow opportunists."

They snickered half-heartedly, "Aye, that they are… my already limited trust was further strained regardless. I've gained a stronger resolve for myself since then, which has been a pleasant boon in its own way."

A flash of lightning brightened the room, pulling their attention to the windows and listening as the rain endured, thinking of the time and wondering how long idle chatter had occupied the two of them; a passing thought drew them back to the former prince, a request… if they could give voice to it.

"...Zenos? If I may," His level gaze remained on them, silently accepting their unknown query, "It's rather late, and…"

The caster chewed on their lip upon choosing their next words, slowly standing and making their way over to stand before the garlean with fidgeting hands. Hands which then reached out to him, "Would you… accompany me to bed? It would be more comfortable than that chair, at the very least."

A faint knitting of his brows was the only response he deigned to give at first, eventually looking to their hands and rising from his own seat- feeling them tentatively grasp his hand and holding it between their own smaller ones.

The travelers studied one another in the firelight and occasional lightning flash, with Auri offering a sheepish smile to him,

"I assure you there is no deception in my offer, and I'm glad you are accepting it…" they said, stepping back and tugging his hand to lead him back to the bedroom they had otherwise claimed for themselves.

Zenos looked to the bed upon entering, a rather skeptical scan of such an aged piece of furniture yet obliging his friend all the same; crawling onto the plush surface which groaned beneath him as he settled on his side and looked to the warrior of light, noting the way they hesitated briefly before slowly moving to lay on their side opposite of him. Another bout of rolling thunder sounded outside and coaxed the au ra to speak,

"It's far from the most comfortable of beds, but 'tis enough to serve its purpose for tonight…"

"I have certainly slept on worse."

The feeling of him reaching to brush some of their hair from their face startled Auri from their spiraling thoughts, meeting his gaze with widened eyes, "I… my apologies, I was…"

Auri chuckled at his blunt reply, giving a conceding nod and adjusting to make themselves more comfortable before the two resumed observing the other in the limited lighting, the thoughts from earlier slowly creeping to the forefront of Auri's mind again at such close proximity. They had entertained the idea more than once even before they were granted permission to venture out into the wider expanses of Eorzea, yet the uncertainty of how he would respond to further affections gave them cause to hesitate.

Would it be too much?

Would all they had cultivated together crumble when stepping past the boundaries of the other?

They had spoken on such things here and there on their journeys, their bond as companions absolute, and yet…

"Drawn to the musings of your mind again," he muttered, "Perhaps you would share which pulls you away at such a time?"

Their cheeks bloomed with warmth, chewing on their lip out of nervous habit until they slowly reached in return, resting their hand upon his cheek and feeling him still,

"I have been… thinking. What… is this? What do we have between us?" Auri asked at last, watching as he studied their face yet retaining his own unreadable expression,

"I suppose such an inquiry would be best answered by you," Zenos replied, "What would you call this?"

A long pause settled between them, "I… suppose," the au ra sighed, "Companionship on the surface… something more deeply intertwined beneath a simple partnership? Driven by a bond we had formed from being tools of those who would use our skills, culminating in what transpired in the gardens in Ala Mhigo…"

Their hesitation returned, "I have… grown to understand how I feel, about this- about you, and yet… I am afraid we see the other the same but through different lenses."

This time the garleans brows knit together faintly, "You're afraid I would reject further affections…"

They winced, "...Aye."

He uttered a faint hum at that, taking his hand away and hearing the sharp inhale from his companion before he came to rest an arm around them and pulled the mage close, tense as though bracing themselves for whatever came next,

“I know naught if there is a means to answer your query, yet I know that ours is a bond forged from the inferno upon the battlefield, and I intend to maintain it beyond even the grasping claws of death.”

"I have viewed courtship and similar rituals to be trite, an attempt to rattle the tedium of life with worthless embellishments… pursuing that which was ultimately meaningless if it were not for one's own gain," he said, "I saw no reason to indulge in something so fleeting when I looked to those around me."

Auri found themselves grasping at the material of his shirt, eyes down as they listened and felt the tense coiling in their gut remain steadfast while the tip of their tail flicked with their thoughts,

Their eyes widened at his words, looking up at him and finding their voice caught in their throat, “I…”

The mage’s lips pressed to a firm line, taking a deep breath and reaching to draw his attention and meeting his gaze briefly as they pulled him closer, unsure of what drove them as they tentatively pressed their lips to his briefly; as they realized their impulse decision the au ra pulled away with a string of hushed apologies, scarce noticing the look upon his face as he stared before he pulled them back in.

His inexperience with such a gesture revealed itself in his haste, hungrily chasing after another kiss and then another, only steadied upon Auri’s fingers tangling in the length of blond- his particular talent for swift learning soon revealing itself again as he eased and slowed in their exchange as a result.

When they next came up for air the garlean pulled away slowly, face mere ilms from Auri’s own with widened eyes and the faint dustings of flushed skin upon his cheeks and chest. A flustered chuckle bubbled up in the mage when the butterflies settled at last, noting how their companion had shifted and now loomed over them in their excitement,

“That… I…” Auri swallowed hard, loosening their grasp on his hair to run their fingers through it again, settling on cupping his cheeks, “I believe that answers my question.”

The riled look upon his face softened to a familiar and smug smile, lowering to steal another kiss as he settled on his side again,

“Good… I would rather there be no uncertainty with what we have.” he uttered after a moment, pulling his companion close again, a certain satisfaction manifesting within him as the tension had since released from their shoulders to hold him in turn.

The storm continued beyond the walls yet had eased in its intensity, allowing the moon’s glow to shine through more easily and illuminating the room, a softened hum leaning Auri as they nestled against their companion… their lover,

“Perhaps this storm was a boon to us after all.” they muttered with a smile, his radiating warmth and steadying heartbeat had granted newfound ease which pulled the weary adventurer down to a restful lull.

The worries of the world could wait until the storm passed.

#Cata Writes #zenos x wol #zenoswol #zenos yae galvus #ffxiv #otp: aurinos #posting this at not 6am on a goof it's fiiiine totally fine #get ready for Slow Burn [Ultimate] y'all

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blindingspark · 11 months

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Plogons Back means I can indulge a lil again w/ a quick set

#otp: aurinos #zenoswol #zenos viator galvus #oc: auri brighteye #ffxiv #he's fine :) he's safe on their island and he's fine :)

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blindingspark · 1 year

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Feather Light

Meeting in the late hours in a place between the Gyr Abanian peaks and the Empire-controlled capital of Ala Mhigo, the Warrior of Light and crown prince find themselves indulging in learning more of their adversary and companion- drawing back layers only permitted to be seen by the other.

Rating: General

Pairing: Zenos/WoL

Notes: In this house we go full throttle with touch-starved!Zenos

The arrangement had started curiously at best after their fateful second meeting across the sea in Doma; sneaking away in the dead of night beneath the nose of the Resistance with the next in line for Garlemalds throne to share in his company, even if the Crown Prince viewed the role itself as nothing more than a title and an obligation.

As the days passed, however, the prince and the 'Warrior of Light' - sworn enemies on paper and in battle- had begun to linger in the others presence more often as they learned more of the other beyond their titles, beyond the facades they wore in front of their peers; simply two souls with more restlessness than they could openly admit.

A small abandoned town within the Gyr Abanian peaks had become a secret meeting place for them, and had somehow managed to remain free from intrusions on either side of the conflict; the matter of being discovered was not an if, but a when, which hung over the two like a thick fog; oft being pushed aside with another bout of reassurances that the next time would be the last meeting, as weakly said as someone who hesitated letting another go...

"Do you know this one?" Zenos' voice, calm as a rolling wave, carried through the air in the worn church they had explored this night and to the au ra's ear, pulling their attention away from the musty old books they had begun to lightly skim through. He stood with his back to them, glancing over his shoulder before motioning with a nod of the head to the statue looming at the far end.

Their brow furrowed, walking up the aisle as they tried deciphering the figure beneath the poor lighting and untended overgrowth,

"Hmmh… Nymeia perhaps," they muttered, now standing beside the garlean prince, mirroring his stance and crossing their arms, "Watcher of the celestial bodies, goddess of fate…"

They looked sidelong up at their confidant, "I thought you would have known about them, purely for the sake of knowledge."

He hummed faintly, "Studied, aye… but I've no need to remember their every detail."

The mage nodded, their gaze lingering on him as he seemed… calm, a genuine calm that was unlike his steady, unmoving coldness upon the battlefield.

“Which of these deities have you sworn yourself to, I wonder,” he thought aloud, shifting his weight from one boot to the other, “Perhaps by true belief, or happenstance from your upbringing?”

“Curious of my past now, are you?” they mused, catching a glimpse of a smirk from him in their peripheral and running their fingers through their hair, stopping mid-stroke as they pondered, “I grew up in a household that revered the kami and one of the Twelve, though it was more out of familiarity than unquestioning worship, especially after we had left the Steppe. I had taken to studying the Twelve as a whole during my days in Kugane, however, and admittedly still only have general knowledge of them… I find them rather fascinating, regardless.”

He uttered a grunt of acknowledgement as he listened, prompting Auri to tilt their head as they looked at him and gave a teasing grin, “No biting remark about my ‘savage’ beliefs or that of my family?”

“Not this time, I’m afraid,” he chuckled dryly, “You and I grew up in vastly different worlds, though that is certainly unquestionable…" a pause, "I wonder what your family would say.”

Their brow perked, “About you?”

He remained silent, allowing the mage to finish ruffling their hair this time, “I’m sure they would be stunned, to say the least. We largely kept out of the way of the Empire, so learning their child has grown close with the current Crown Prince would certainly throw them for a loop.”

This coaxed a softened sound from him, “Indeed.”

“May I…” they began after a moment of thought, weighing where they stood and wondering if they were about to tread into precarious territory… “May as I ask about yours?”

A heavy silence followed, and Zenos’ gaze fell to the base of the statue; the impression that it had been some time since he had recalled such details was not lost to the au ra,

“What is there to say…? I scarce knew my dame- she grew ill and passed not long after I was born, and my sire… His Radiance, seldom acknowledged me. It was oft months between when I would see him, leaving me to learn, to train, to exist surrounded by caretakers who had no more humanity in their actions than automatons. Going about their days in idle routine and appeasing my father simply by keeping me alive and tended to.”

A chill slowly crept through Auri as they listened, watching his unbothered posture and expression as he spoke of his childhood- the myriad of emotions stewing within themselves at learning such a personal part of their companions past… slowly piecing together how Zenos grew into the man that stood before them now.

Subconsciously, their hand reached out and lightly touched his forearm, seeing his brows furrow and light blue eyes lock onto their hand- which they retrieved immediately,

“I- I’m sorry I should have…” they exhaled through their nose, craning their neck to look up at him directly, “Zenos, are you alright with touch?”

For once, they could not rightly place the look in his eyes as he lingered on them. He often shifted between staring through someone to a too-intense focus, something which still startled Auri on occasion, yet this time it seemed his mind had turned in a way he had not needed it to for some time.

Zenos yae Galvus, Crown Prince of Garlemald, terror of Ala Mihgo… lost for words.

Shifting his weight, he turned slightly to face them, reaching out to take one of their hands and after a brief moment of consideration pulled it to press their palm to his chest, his eyes moving up to meet theirs with an unusual look yet the message was clear enough to discern: action where words could not suffice.

They waited for his small nod then let their gaze fall to where their hand had been placed, splaying their fingers and feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath their palm. The mage inhaled slowly, stepping closer and reaching with their free hand to rest on his other arm, their thumb moving in a small, soothing back and forth motion as they tested the waters.

He was tense.

Their attention lifted to him and offered a look of sincerity, “If you want me to stop, tell me… please-”

“Don’t.” his voice was sharp, though not with anger as they had worried, “...Don’t.”

Nodding slowly, the mage lingered then began their gentle traversal as the garlean eased his hold over the hand on his chest, slowly running their hand along his chest and down his other arm, eventually reaching his hands; calloused yet slender, the topography of his hands intrigued them- and not merely for the fact their own were dwarfed by his if they were to compare.

They focused on one hand- his right, noting the slight padding on the palm of his fingerless gloves, briefly remembering the tale he had regaled to them about the training he had experienced in his younger days, how he had cut down his instructor who had no qualms about his goal to kill the princeling, and only succeeding after embedding a shard of crystal into his palm to force a moment of aetheric manipulation- a feat otherwise unachievable to a born Garlean. Auri's expression was somber as they recalled, holding the scarred hand as best they could and pulling it close to their face, placing a soft kiss on his palm; the sound of him letting out a trembling breath gave them pause,

“I can stop-”

He shook his head, the look in his eyes unlike anything the mage had seen in him before.

They placed another kiss on his palm after a pause, pulling their head back finding themselves tracing the tendon lines on his wrist and along his forearm, moving closer as they returned their attention to lightly grazing his frame with their hands, testing the waters and watching for signs of discomfort,

“I take it you've never been touched like this…?” they inquired gently, hands pausing in their journey and settling on his upper arms, the look on his face speaking volumes more than his words,

“No… no I have not.” his voice was strangely quiet, not carrying the usual rolling, poetic tone he often spoke with.

Another nod from the mage- deciding against pressing for more answers- and they resumed. Their fingers delicately traced the lines of his shoulders, finding themselves standing on tiptoes to reach… a streak of bravery made them pull slightly, watching him lean down at their coaxing and allowing them to explore further; Auri offered a smile, one hand now reaching his jaw and resting there while the other moved further and brushed the strands of long blond out of his face and behind his ear.

His gaze fixated entirely on them, breath slow and deep as he leaned into their touch.

Their fingers slowly brushed through his hair, feeling the silklike strands as they combed and gingerly massaged his scalp with their claws, his breathing hitching at their gentle motions. Their other hand carefully mapped out his face, taking in every detail from the height of his cheekbone to the curve of his ear, eventually brushing their thumb along his cheek and startling them from their own trance upon feeling him reach up to grasp their hand before they could pull away, turning his head to return the gesture from earlier: lips pressing to their palm and lingering.

The mage held their breath as they watched, waiting to see what he would do next as their mind steadily turned. He sighed at last, quiet as he loosened his hold on their hand and moved his head down a touch, his mouth now grazed the tendon lines of their wrist, scarcely any pressure applied,

"Now, now, your highness," the au ra gently chided as they watched him, "Bite me or draw my blood otherwise and I'll be most cross with you."

A faint smile curled his lips along with a quietly amused chuckle, "Nay, such would be poor sport from me, my friend…"

The prince lingered, his smirk fading just as quickly as it had appeared, and even through his hooded gaze the mage could see his mind turning through the gentle touch upon his cheek,

"I cannot recall the last time I felt something such as this. All my life I have gone about my days the same as the last; the morrow was merely routine outside of the occasions when I needed to deign the company of citizenry or high society with my presence. Seldom did I desire or acknowledge the aid of another even before I tended to my own wounds from training or combat, I had the knowledge and oft utilized it…"

Auri remained focused on the garlean, listening as he seemed to… wander through his thoughts and gave voice to them. It was not uncommon for him to be quiet during their evenings together, something they had assumed came to be as he only truly spoke when needed, his words purposeful through the steady drawl and flowered phrasing… such an observation made his current state all the more unusual to them,

"Curious…" he muttered after a lengthy bout of silence, earning a puzzled look from Auri even as they remained quiet, watching his steady gaze lift slightly to stare at the wall on the far end of the aged building, "Forgive me, this feeling is rather strange. I find myself hesitating, for reasons I know naught as to why, and yet..."

The au ra's brows knit together further as they listened, his words hardly carrying the steadiness and certainty they had grown accustomed to in their short time together; listening instead to the quiet, near-aimless nature of his thoughts as they were given voice,

"And yet, I find myself unable to draw back from this feeling- this sensation, as though once I let go you may simply…" Zenos trailed off again, his eyes closing again and pressing their hand more firmly to his cheek, "The thought of no longer feeling your hand upon me should I let go… it aches within me- and yet I cannot place why…"

Auri's eyes widened as they felt the crown prince tense once more, almost… trembling? A sensation so faint they doubted it came from him, yet they reached with their other hand to cup his remaining cheek, their thumbs moving in steady, soothing motions as they noted his tensing and relaxing shoulders with each hastened breath,

"Steady… steady," They uttered, never wavering in their gestures while they attempted to soothe and granting a soft smile, "I'll not vanish should I let go, I promise… so long as you would have me, I may have you as well."

They had hardly noticed the way Zenos settled upon his knees before them until they felt his remaining arm slither around their middle to pull them close, holding the au ra a bit too tight against his frame- Auri let out a small huff at the gesture and it's attempted tenderness, adjusting their own arm to rest around his shoulders for some relief; feeling him take notice and easing his hold just a touch. From this new angle, the au ra uttered a faint sigh and tentatively rested their head atop his, their thoughts turning at how their companion had revealed how starved for touch he was… perhaps how deeply he had craved painless acts of connection such as this and yet never had the thought itself cross his mind- not that they could blame him, knowing now how he had simply survived in idleness and tedium in his twenty-six summers upon this star.

"Speak your mind, if you wish," Auri muttered, feeling his grasp on their hand ease at last as he turned and rested his head upon the juncture between their neck and shoulder, a faint- if not somber- smile crossed the mage's lips at the adjustment and sighed, "Or not… you may let your actions speak for you."

A grunt of acknowledgement was all the crown prince offered in return, his other arm joining the first in holding the au ra to him and slowly easing the stark tension within his body.

They knew naught how much time passed as they embraced, an instant or an eternity simply felt the same, before the garlean at last loosened his hold and looked up to meet the warrior of light's eyes. His expression was languid as they had grown accustomed to, though his gaze carried a glimmer of… yearning, perhaps? The observation remained as such within the au ra as they reached to gently comb their fingers through his hair once more, speaking at a near-whisper,

"We should depart soon… unfortunately, time is not our companion and the company we keep will surely come looking soon enough."

His eyes closed, sighing and leaning into their touch again before he loosened his hold and stood, watching Auri pull back their hands once more- resting them on his chest instead,

"Aye, and we must play our parts a little while longer." Zenos replied, his usual drawl slipping into place once more even as his tone did not carry the usual commanding air. They soon stepped away from the other to find their respective traveling attire, a more comfortable silence filling the building they had hidden themselves in before they made ready to part ways.

The blond finished fastening one last buckle on his traveling armor when the feeling of a smaller clawed hand on his arm drew his attention, looking over to the source and seeing the rather sheepish expression on Auri's face,

"Thank you for… for telling me." They said, watching the prince linger briefly before nodding once,

"You have shown me your own scars and told your tales, telling you of my own is a fair reward."

Another smile from the mage was given, feeling the steady pat on his gauntlet before watching them turn and begin their venture, giving him one last look over their shoulder,

" 'Til we meet again…?"

"As always."

#Cata Writes #zenos x wol #zenoswol #zenos yae galvus #ffxiv #otp: Aurinos

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blindingspark · 1 year

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Haven't done many gposes since updating Auri's scales but I'm feeling some kinda way today so have some old Aurinos pics~

[Wol uses they/them, thank you!]

#gpose #otp: Aurinos #zenoswol #zenos x wol #ffxiv

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blindingspark · 1 year

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Moonlight

In the still of nightfall, Zenos lends an ear to his companion as they navigate old wounds. Rating: Mature Pairing: Zenos/WoL Notes: Written from Zenos's POV! This was a fun little exercise trying to actually write from his perspective and try to emulate him more thoroughly! Contains spoilers from 6.0 MSQ! CW for discussions of grief and deep depression bordering on ideations.

Peace was a strange creature; to be at ease after such a lifetime of strife and searching, spending year after year clawing at the opportunity to face one he could deem his equal and rival, to play their roles as hero and villain to perfection in a clash, a brilliant display of prowess that could rattle the very heavens… the calm that would eventually greet him had unnerved him in a way he had never known.

The same dream rolled through his mind's eye- memories from another time when the star was yet whole, he recalled- though it had evolved in recent months; the sky no longer burned furiously, only the steady grey of a storms aftermath, and though he walked the same path as always he could scarce ignore the silence that had replaced the screams and panic of shades as they hopelessly sought an escape.

A reflection, perhaps, he pondered, Of the final days being averted once more.

His thoughts traveled then to the fated moment he found his friend, his equal, facing the manifestation of despair itself. How glorious it had been to see their ferocity brought to the forefront, feeling every crackling surge of power and wave of searing heat as he carried them through the very stars before he would face such fury himself once again.

His thoughts shifted once more, recalling being at the edge of existence itself, spent from their battle and the realization that he could only chase the exhilaration of a grand battle for so long had begun to settle in his mind. The memories of the cool air stinging with each strained breath, how the stars surrounding them fluctuated in clarity as he clung to life- instinctual stubbornness or some other force unknown to him, he still had yet to determine. Zenos also recalled the way he had heard his companion drag themselves to his side- just as stubborn as he- and held him before muttering something indiscernible under their breath, clinging to his slowly weakening body until they were spirited away to the company of their allies-

A sigh left him as he drifted back to the present, reaching to pull a familiar warmth closer and finding the space empty; his brows knit together before stirring more fully, sitting upright to see where his companion had gone and stilling when his search was short-lived.

The au ra sat on the edge of the bed, entranced by the quiet snowfall that could be seen from the windows a few fulms away, scarcely illuminating the room itself; the shift on the bed coaxed them to look over and meet steady blue with glowing magenta. Their placid expression shifted to concern upon realizing they might have disturbed his sleep- as if he would blame them for such a slight,

"I… my apologies," they muttered, "I was rather lost in a memory. I did not mean to wake you…"

"You seldom rouse from dreams in such a fashion, I'm to assume it was not a pleasant one."

Auri winced, looking to the windows once more while the flicking of their tail was noticed by the garleans wandering eye, "It wasn't- I…" a pause, the subtle light showing how their jaw clenched as they parsed the memories, "I was thinking of an old friend of mine, and how on nights like this I would be invited to sit by the fire and talk for hours with a fresh cup of cocoa he never failed to make... He was a weathered but exceptionally kind soul."

"The knight?" He inquired, studying their features and watching them nod after some thought,

"Aye. One taken far too soon… I would have liked sharing my many adventures with him," they replied at last, pulling their knees to their chest and resting their chin atop their crossed arms, "I often wonder what he would have said about the places I've gone… the people I've met-" a brief glance and the au ra stopped, biting their lip in the process, "I'm certain my ramblings wear their welcome, especially at this time of night… forgive me."

"And why do you apologize?" He replied, a touch more blunt than was likely necessary, judging by the way Auri's shoulders bunched- a reaction that had stirred a tightness in his chest he rather misliked. His mouth pressed to a firm line, reaching to pull them closer and feeling the mage comply with ease before he spoke again, "The star is vast, this much we know full well, and you have found companionship in every place you have gone. I cannot understand how, nor do I truly wish to…" he trailed off, seeming… lost; a loss for words which had only begun since knowing the mage in his arms, "But I cannot dismiss that some companions leave their mark more distinctly than others."

"You would know about that, wouldn't you?" Auri said with the faintest of smiles curling their lips, earning a hum in reply,

"I suppose I would, even if the journey to recognize such has been an endeavor on its own." The garlean noted, feeling his companion settle into his arms, head resting upon his shoulder as they looked to the window again and allowed a silence to manifest; the only indication of their mind yet turning was felt in the way their tail hooked around him before they spoke again,

"There was a time after… after losing that friend, when the days became a blur marked only by what felt like a trivial passage of time, when it was impossible to pull myself out of bed and ready myself for what was required of me next- I scarcely had time to process it all, scarce had time to catch my breath in the midst of aiding Ishgard," muttered the au ra, feeling the tensing of their jaw from the recollection as their head rested upon his breast- yet he remained silent for them to continue,

"I had on more than one occasion reached a point where I simply wished to…" a slight gesture to the air, "Vanish. I cannot say that I wanted to… die, really, but I did not wish to continue carrying such a weight upon my shoulders while telling the world I was fine. For a time I protected the fire of my life for myself, fearing at any moment I could be swept away and allow it to be extinguished- I wanted to believe there was a joy to be found again despite all I had endured."

A grunt of acknowledgement left him, the faint scrunch in his brow becoming noticeable as his own thoughts turned with such a confession. He had known their resolve even before they pulled him back from oblivion a second time; how often they had looked upon adversity and pushed back against the impending despair it wrought, becoming the subject of praise and awe among the people and bards seeking inspiration, and yet the knowledge that even one who shone as brilliant and ferocious as them could humour such a fate was a revelation he had not expected to be surprised by-

The feeling of clawed fingertips drew the garleans attention, looking to the source of such a sensation and finding his companion slowly tracing along the jagged, though healed, scarring across his chest; a treasure from their encounter at the edge of creation- yet the forlorn look in the mages eye reminded him they did not hold it to such high regard as he did,

"Does this hurt, still?" the au ra inquired as they looked up at him, their hand easing as his own rested atop it,

"Nay, not as deeply; I admit I have savored the awareness it brought me, the clarity," he said, " 'tis a reminder of your strength and where we have ventured."

They uttered a huff of a laugh, letting their gaze fall while they leaned their head to rest once more,

"I suppose that is one way to look at it… none have gone so far as to see the furthest edge of creation save for us." Auri then thought aloud, their thumb tracing along the rigid edge of his scar, "For all the pain leading towards it, it was quite beautiful at the end…"

A yawn punctuated their words, feeling them slowly ease against him while they settled into silence until their breathing eventually deepened, signaling to him that his dearest friend now rested. Zenos reached with his free hand to unfurl their tail from its hold around him and move it aside, granting him room to shift back and settle against the pillows once more, his companion adjusting a bit and letting a heavy sigh escape them as their arm reached to drape across his chest, the other curled between them.

The unfamiliar peaceful feeling bloomed once more in the scarcely lit space, gnawing at the recesses of his mind like an idling beast; perhaps it would always feel unnatural to him- the painless attentions and acts of affection his friend brought forth, soothing with their mere presence. Yet despite its unfamiliarity, he had found himself withdrawing and declining the lull of domesticity less as the days passed, save for the occasional itch to keep his blade and senses sharpened when his exploration through their collections of tomes and leather-bound chronicles did not suffice.

His eyes grew heavy within the rooms stillness, feeling the grasping claws of slumber drag him down once more as if to pull his thoughts away from wandering too far and letting out a faint sigh, holding his companion to him. The gleaning remnant of the royal selfishness finding momentary satisfaction in having claimed the mage in his arms for himself as they had for him, delivering him comfortably to sleep in turn, to a quiet which was no longer a mere escape from the mire of the day to day.

#Cata Writes #zenos x wol #zenoswol #zenos viator galvus #ffxiv #otp: Aurinos

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blindingspark · 1 year

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Discovery

After their second encounter in the ruins of Doma, a recovering warrior of light takes advantage of a moments respite in the Azim Steppe...

Rating: General [Aka it's All Talk and Establishing]

Pairing: Zenos/WoL... ish

Notes: I'll be working through a backlog of fics I've written and try to brush them up, make them more chronological as I post them. I've written these as a hobby and for character building in different ways, so please keep that in mind and I hope you enjoy~!

The cold was just as they had remembered. Biting, dry and encompassing, even on the nights it could be considered 'temperate'.

Perched atop a hill overlooking a vast expanse of grassland, Auritel surveyed the land they had at one point dared to call home; a persistent tight roiling in the au ra's gut having followed them since they and their companions made their way inland from Reunion- the trading hub itself lay far off in the distance.

A heavy breath left them as they settled down into the tall grass, rubbing their face as nerves once again kept them from rest while in the Steppe, their mind racing as they recalled the days events and what lay ahead of them in order to earn the Xaela tribes' approval; moving forward perpetually even as they balanced their efforts with tending to the aches from their run-in at the ruins of Doma with the Empires crown prince-

The sound of metal shifting akin to heavy, spurred footfalls captured their attention, prompting the mage to scramble to their feet with staff in hand as their gaze landed on what- or rather, who- the source of the sound was; eyes widening as a familiar, towering figure appeared from the hillside with a silhouette that would undoubtedly frighten under normal circumstances.

"Ah, it seems you recovered from our last encounter. Your resilience continues." the crown prince said as he slowed to a halt a few yalms away, a swift wind blowing past the garlean and warrior of light, the latter struggling to contain a shiver as the cold sank into their bones effortlessly.

Magenta eyes flickered to the space behind Zenos, looking for any extra bodies or machinery that may have accompanied him in this… ambush? Focusing on him once more, Auri silently noted his relaxed stance… at least as relaxed as one could look while clad in such heavy armor, the armor which still bore a broken 'horn' from their last duel,

"How did you find me?" The mage hissed, tail waving back and forth slowly as their fight or flight shifted with indecision, "What do you want?"

A small head tilt, the garlean remained still otherwise, "I have eyes and ears in all places here, lest you forget, hero. Though when news came about that the revered Warrior of Light had a habit of wandering from their peers at night after coming here to the Steppe…" he paused, the mage swearing they could feel the burning of his gaze from behind the voidlike eyes of his helm, "I wished to see for myself what would draw them away from their allies. Perhaps reliving a nostalgic time in the quiet hours?'"

A warm wave of embarrassment crept upwards along their neck at the carelessness of their movements being pointed out so plainly, their sense of flight growing all the more as they considered their options against the warrior before them… admitting there weren't many given their respective abilities and circumstances,

"I... would hesitate to call it that," they said dismissively, looking him over and for any tells that he was planning to attack, "But my personal sentiments here are unimportant, surely… you…"

Auri's words faded in their throat as they watched him shift and move at last- no longer a looming statue of a man, reaching for the massive contraption akin to a mechanized scabbard that hung from his hip. Their gaze remained intently focused as he unhooked it from his armor and set it on the grass, reaching to remove his helm shortly after and setting it atop the lot.

The au ra's brows knit together, confounded by the prince disarming himself with such a casual movement and stiffening as their gaze met his: a vacant and cold blue like the winds that continued to whip around them.

Zenos turned from his arsenal and stepped closer to the edge of the overlook they had found themselves upon, an imposing figure even without his weaponry and glanced over his shoulder at the au ra; his neutral expression carrying an expectant air.

Of course. He remained royalty, after all.

Auri's own expression became more thoroughly perplexed as they watched him, keeping a firm hold of their staff as they moved closer to the edge to his side an arms length and a half away- he was still their enemy, after all. An enemy that had no qualms about the might he possessed.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips as the au ra stood to his side; humorless but as close to inviting as they could only imagine he could muster before his attention returned to the grassy plains, observing with a sense of calm they had not borne witness to-

His drawling tone pulled them from their own analytical gaze upon him, Auri blinked before shifting in their spot and cautiously turning their gaze outward to follow his own, sparing a sidelong look out of suspicion moments after, "I… forgive me for not understanding why you're here. Or why you went out of your way to find me, and by yourself, as well..."

"I will not bite, such would be very poor sport in your current state."

He uttered a small hum, continuing to watch the land below them as his silence manifested a weight of tension on its own- only broken when he spoke at last, "I am not without my curiosity, hero. Hearing of the harsh conditions of these lands, as unyielding as the people that call it home…" a sidelong look was returned, "And then there is you; from your garb to your mannerisms, you seem only an original resident of the Steppe in appearance, it piques ones interest."

The crown prince's tone seemed purposeful in coaxing an answer from the mage, watching them bristle and boldly turn their attention away from him, tail curling around their person lest they give themselves away further with an agitated flick,

"I hold no love of this place, it nearly was my grave when I was but a child of eight years," Auri stated coldly, the bitterness apparent on their tongue as the words left them, "I had moved on from this place ages ago, and yet here I am… dragged back in to attend to a mess not my own."

They winced faintly as the words spilled from their lips with ease, how easily he could draw out their innermost thoughts through a bit of coaxing and prying…

"And do you protest? To think that a vaunted figure such as yourself would have naught a louder voice when faced with matters like this. Or perhaps you are simply too duty-bound to refuse?" He inquired, turning his head to fully look at the mage, noting their stiffened posture and tail curling more tightly, fighting the need to look away and hope he would take his leave with their guarded language- as outlandish as such a thing felt,

"I… I wish I did."

His brow quirked, remaining quiet as the Warrior of Light now took a keen interest in their staff, shoulders bunched with tension,

"I had a passing thought that perhaps I had finally grown past my hatred of this place with time if I were to come here. That I could make this a quick matter and be done with it, and yet…" the au ra's voiced trailed again, reignited agitation plain in their eyes, "Here I am; being an errand runner to those who scarce knew me before, enduring a rite of passage involving the very beast that nearly cut my life short and all because I'm assisting a spoiled-" Auri stopped, expression steeling as they met Zenos' gaze once more, biting back the urge to spill their woes unto the listening ear, let alone one of their enemy, "Why I'm here is of no concern to you; and I should find offense that you came here on your own accord and goading me into baring my worries to you."

A shift of his features, the smile carrying a sly, foxlike quality to it,

"Hmh, indeed indeed…" he dryly mused, head tipping slightly as he studied them a moment before turning, "Find offense in my presence or do not, such is for you and you alone to determine," he gave Auri a once-over glance then turned to retrieve his helmet and weapons, the ease of his movements seeming to be born of purposeful carelessness- "Recover swiftly and make quick your tasks here, whatever they may be, hero," Zenos said, looking over his shoulder one last time, a fresh breeze causing the length of blond which spilled from beneath the helm to billow like the grass that surrounded them, "I look forward to our next meeting across the sea."

Before they could respond, the garlean turned away once more and began his trek downhill and away from them, leaving the mage perplexed… though not entirely threatened as the familiar heft of shifting metal quieted with distance. Their eyes flickered up to the horizon, seeing the sun beginning to peek over the mountain range and quickly moved to gather their things; trotting down the hillside opposite of where the heir apparent to the Empire had traversed, hoping to reach the Mol settlement before their companions would awaken. Their mind racing with curiosity over such a strange encounter, lingering on the way they simply could not pin down and read the garlean as they had been able to with so many adversaries before, and yet finding themselves drawn to learning his machinations all the more- even if such a thing seemed ill-advised among their peers.

#Cata Writes #zenos x wol #zenoswol #zenos yae galvus #ffxiv #otp: Aurinos

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