Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He was like a dream.

The hearth’s light cast the parlor in a rich orange-gold glow, strong as the morning sun but far more sultry. Kaida was usually not affected by such ambiences, keeping herself checked under a veil of obligation and duty. But on that night, influenced slightly by the heat of spiced wine that still tickled her taste buds, she felt the tension in the air. It was warm, like a rock long sat under the sun’s rays. It affected her, crept along her skin giving rise to goosebumps. Her cheeks remained flushed ever so slightly by the light grip of tipsiness, thanking the kami that she had managed to empty her glass.

Haurchefant would, of course, have none of such shyness. Though they sat in his father’s mansion, they were alone– a rare moment. Usually there was someone with them to keep that tension in check. But in the heat of the moment, feelings were starting to run rampant. He crossed the parlor after finishing his drink– they had been discussing something idly but Kaida had already forgotten what the topic was. Instead, her eyes had begun to trace his lips. And his had begun to sink into her, drinking her up faster than he had his own wine.

She could not say how they got there but suddenly her back was to the wall and he was there, a hand under her chin. He leaned in, lips brushing against her nape– a feeling most alien but welcome, her eyes widening as they stared in shock ahead of her.  Kaida’s mind scrambled to catch up with the present and his lips went against her again, blanking out her thoughts. And then his voice came against her horn in a whisper.

“My, what heavy robes. Are you certain you would not like to shed them? The hearth is plenty capable of keeping the two of us warm. And should it fail to do so, I can think of other ways we might resolve such an issue…”

‘I am a shrine maiden of the Ruby Sea.  Sworn to pledge my life to the water kami and Great Suijin.  This is scandalous talk… I must remember my vows.’  But those vows felt like a promise from a lifetime ago.  How long had it even been since she had left her village?  How many heartaches did she have to endure before she let herself give in to her heart’s desire…?

He smiled at her.  She thought she would combust on the spot.  Her mouth opened to voice her doubts.

‘And yet I cannot help but find myself entranced by him.’

But it caught his lips instead, his tall form pressing her into the wall. She wanted nothing more than to melt into his arms. But then she remembered herself. She remembered where they stood– perilously in public, where any of Count Edmont’s men could witness their exchange. Yet Haurchefant’s boldness made her think perhaps this was not the first time he had done this so openly. That made her feel all sorts of strange things.  Jealousy was the loudest of them all.

They broke apart and Kaida cleared her throat.  No, no, she would not be swayed so easily.  Even if she was not at war with herself over her religious vows, there was much that required their utmost attention.  Such pleasures would have to wait.

“A war is at our door.  We should be spending our time preparing for it,” she said to him, marking the disappointment in his eyes.  That hurt her heart and she sighed, giving him a small half-smile.  She was not good with words.  She was not good at this at all.  “When this is over… l-let’s talk then?”

Talk. But did she mean ‘talk’…? He was a little too enticing for words alone… She tried to stifle a blush at where her mind went.

“As you wish, my lady,” Haurchefant said warmly, wise enough to take the hint. He straightened his posture. “Though I will admit my eagerness to see this all draw to an end. If that is what must needs happen in order to find succor in your lips once more.”

She flushed a deeper shade, massaging her cheeks as she did. “It will not be long, I hope.”

‘Just… wait for me, Haurchefant. Until then.’

“So, you’re going to Werlyt are you?” Listelle said to Kaida as the teal-haired Raen made for the door to the Rising Stones.

It had been years since the Dragonsong War.  What had felt like the most hectic time in her life was viewed with a serenity born only from hindsight.  Kaida thought often of those days even though they brought a poignant taste to her tongue.  Once, she would have done anything to forget.  But with recent events, she found her heart yearning for yesteryears as a pleasant distraction from the present.  Towers springing up all around Hydaelyn, the truth of the Mothercrystal, the world that had once been… it was too much sometimes.  And though Kaida Asagiri was not wont to run from her troubles, she had decided to go on a sabbatical—if only for a few sweet days.  The Garlond Ironworks were in need of a test pilot for their latest venture—the G-Savior and its twin.  They were to be the guardians of Werlyt, the front line of defense in case the Garleans got cheeky and decided to reclaim what they had lost.

Not that Kaida thought that was likely.  From what it sounded, the capital was in disarray and Zenos did not have the taste for leadership. 

“I’ll return in a few days,” Kaida said to Listelle, meeting her fellow Raen’s mismatched eyes.  “Just a small trip.”

“Right…” Listelle said with the soft drum of her fingers upon her chin.  “Well, don’t let me keep you.  Just promise me you won’t be gone too long.  Things have been…”

The two of them cast a look across the Rising Stones.  As of late, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn headquarters had become emptier.  With a never-ending sea of trouble sweeping across Hydaelyn, the Warriors of Light had been summoned to all corners of the world.  Kaida looked up to see a handful of her peers readying to depart for Doma.  From there, they would take a ferry to Gangos, where they would continue with the Bozjan reclamation effort.  She met eyes with Cassandra, who seemed to be leading the squadron against the IVth Legion.  Kaida had known her for years now—since the days of fighting against the XIVth.  Back when times were simpler but still delightfully complicated.  Back when the latest scandal was finding out Cassandra was Gaius’s estranged daughter and no one had to think about things like worlds from before, towers that seemed filled to the brim with tempered, and

“… Keep an eye on the old Wolf,” was all Cassandra said to her as she passed by—Aurelia, Lizzy, and Astor in tow. 

Kaida nodded.  There was not much more to say other than that.  She offered a quiet, meek “good luck” as they walked out—uncharacteristically out of cheer, a slip in her mask.  Her emerald eyes turned back to her friend, who seemed equally lost in thought.

“… Interesting lately…” Listelle finished lightly.  “That’s the second squad to Bozja this week.  I hope things are going well out there.”

“I’ll be back before you start to miss me.  Maybe we’ll both be on the next ferry to Bozja at this rate,” Kaida said with a wink as she made her way towards the Rising Stones doors, pausing for a moment as Urianger came through them. 

The elezen’s gilded eyes brightened as he caught sight of Kaida.  “Ahhh, Lady Asagiri, fortune doth be on mine side that I caught thee before thy quite sudden departure.”

“Urianger… right, about that,” Kaida said.  “I am sorry for leaving on such short notice.  Your astrologian teachings have been helpful.  But I’m afraid I’ll have to put a pause on my training for a bit longer.”

“Thou needst not offer unto me excuses.  Full well is it known that the Garlond Ironworks is in direst need.  Resumeth thy lessons upon thy leisure.  I shall remaineth here,” Urianger said with a nod.

“Thank you for understanding.  I promise, I won’t forget everything you and G’raha have taught me by the time I return.  Well, most of it, at least,” Kaida replied.  “Anyways, take care.  I’ll be back soon.”

She made it to the door then, praying for no more interruptions.  Her prayer went unanswered.

“You planneth not to take thy globe?” Urianger’s question chased her as her hand reached for the door handle.

“Oh, I don’t suppose I’ll need that if I’m piloting a giant robot, will I?” Kaida asked over her shoulder and Urianger gave a shrug before moving to chat with Tataru at her desk.

Kaida passed through the bustling Seventh Heaven, her boots giving loud thunks upon the wooden planks.  Clad in her silver Dark Knight’s gear, she felt invulnerable—head lifted, eyes staring forward with that typical spark in them.  Deathbringer hung at her back, its weight like an old, familiar friend.  She smiled naturally, feeling eyes upon them and, more than that, the pressure of what it meant to be a Warrior of Light.  Constant adoration.  One would have thought they would never tire from it.  But Kaida Asagiri… had tired from it a long time ago, the mask of her title fused into the very cells of her being at this point.  And yet somehow, that did not make it any easier.

Mor Dhona to the fringe of the Lochs was not a long journey by teleportation.  Her body, whisked upon the veins of the aetherial veins that ran their course through the planet, relaxed in the state of privacy.  But as soon as she saw the light that signaled the end of her trip, she readied herself for the keen eyes of the Ala Mhigan guard.  Porta Praetoria eventually came into sight and she stood next to its aetheryte, taking in a moment to do a quick breathing exercise.  In for a few seconds.  Then out through the mouth in a sigh.  She turned curtly and began for the carriage that would bear her to the air ferry to Terncliff.

The commute was uneventful but her nerves grew by the second—particularly on the flight to Terncliff’s jagged shores.  As the coastal town came into eventual sight, Kaida found herself holding her breath involuntarily.  Ever since the VIIth legion had been purged from Werlyt, things had been as calm as they could have been.  To the Scions, of course, this was a routine check-in on the recovering town.  To her?  Much more, though she did not want to admit it.  Not to herself.  Not to anyone.  Officially, she was here to help Cid with some work on the G-Savior.  Unofficially, however…

She was here because Gaius had requested it and Kaida found herself unable to say no to him.  Maybe it was her obsession with pleasing everyone.  Maybe it was the way his smile caught her off-guard.  Maybe it was the idea of piloting a giant robot sounding just too damn cool to pass up.  Maybe it was her exhaustion at her Warrior of Light duties.  Maybe it was all of the above.

“Now approaching Terncliff!  Please stay seated as we land!” hollered the airship’s captain. 

Kaida did as he instructed but her heartrate rose out of anxiety.

I’m here… geesh, for a break, this feels incredibly nerve-racking…

She tried to parse why and the answer her mind came up with was unsatisfying.  But it was not entirely inaccurate.

Gaius wanted me to come so I’m here.  But this is just another task for a Warrior of Light, really.  It’s all professional.  He and I are colleagues now.

After the airship had docked, the Raen stepped out, surveying her surroundings. There was an eternal softness about the town she quite liked.  It had a home-like sense to it, one that made her think she could live here, if life was not always pulling at her to solve everyone’s problems.  She walked and let the sea-scented breeze trail over her, bringing a refreshing crispness to the air.  Kaida breathed it in and found herself longing to stay already.  But her trip here would be short, she knew.  The Scions would find another task for her before long.  And then it would be back to the fray, as always.

The Ironworks had opted to use the abandoned Imperial castrum as a base and that was her destination.  Avilina, one of their engineers, was quick to greet her at the hanger door, showing her in to where they had set up the G-Savior Mark I.

“It’s great that you’re here!” Avilina said to her, a plain white mug of coffee in one hand.  “We’ve been able to do a lot in the two weeks since your last visit.  But having an actual, practiced test pilot is going to do wonders for the tuning process!”

Kaida’s eyes swept from the coffee to the young Raen’s excited face, not wondering in the slightest how they had managed to get so much done in such a short period of time.  She cocked a brow at Avilina, who barely seemed to notice her accusing look.  The engineer led her straight to where Cid awaited.  The Garlond Ironwroks chief looked busy, typing away on a magitek tablet that was tucked partially under an arm.  He stood a few yalms from the large warmachina’s feet, mouth contorted with thought.  But his silver-blue eyes perked at the sight of Kaida’s approach.

“Ahhhh, right on time as always!” Cid said to her with that jovial smile of his as a chipper Avilina went back to some of her duties.  “Good.  I know you have had a lot of your plate as of late, dealing with the Telophoroi.  I am glad you could find the time to help us out here.”

“A break from the battlefront is welcome,” Kaida replied.  “More than welcome, in fact.”

“I believe it,” Cid replied.  The two of them approached the G-Savior, with her Garlean friend patting its leg affectionately while nibbling at his lower lip.  “We did not get to deploy the G-Savior as I had hoped against the Diamond Weapon.  But the people of Werlyt have asked the Ironworks to help fortify the area’s defenses and I couldn’t say no to that.”

“Right.  If we want to make sure the Empire stays out of this area, we’ll need to make sure they can stand on their own two feet.  But that being said, I cannot guarantee I’ll always be available to pilot the G-Savior,” Kaida replied.  “Particularly if there’s something that comes up short-notice.”

“I know that—you’re probably one of the busiest people in Eorzea right about now.  We’ve already begun vetting a new pilot for your role.  Well, two pilots, I should say.  When you sent word that you would likely be unable to pilot the G-Savior full-time, your co-pilot put in his resignation.  Not to anyone’s surprise,” Cid informed her.

“Did he?” Kaida asked, unease rocking in her chest.  “And where is he now?”

“Gaius will be here for the test run.  He promised as much and he is not exactly in any position to upset me,” Cid replied.  “Or the people of Werlyt, for that matter.  I understand there is still a lot of bitterness towards him.  Rightfully so.  But he has made good on his word to help rebuild.”

“Good,” she replied, though this news was not surprising.  Gaius had always been true to his word—even when he was the enemy. 

“He’ll be around here somewhere,” Cid continued.  “If you’re looking for him.”

“W-why would I be?” Kaida asked and Cid gave her a casual shrug.

“In case you wanted to speak with him before the test run.”

She felt transparent but knew there was no way Cid could have known what she was thinking.  Instead, the Raen nodded and made her way to a room that had been set aside for pilots to get ready.  A series of lockers stood embedded into the walls, made with magitek locks.  She knew her code by heart, typing it in and listening to the chime that confirmed she had inputted the right password.  She opened the door and looked at the pilot’s uniform within.  Silver, made of metal.  Form-fitting with bright blue near the collar.  It reminded her briefly of an Imperial flight uniform but there was an Ironworks flair to it.  The back of the collar sported the Ironworks symbol.

Freedom through technology.  Let’s hope we’re able to keep this area safe.

The locker door closed and that was when she noticed him.  He sat on a bench, off to the side.  Gold-hued eyes locked on her.  Their piercing glare threatened to pick her to pieces.  Part of her wanted to let them.  The other part of her was too full of pride. 

“You look tired,” she said to him despite not looking at him. “How’s Allie?”

“Well enough.  She applied to try her hand at the Mark II,” Gaius replied.  “I heard a troubling report.  That the towers Zenos and Fandaniel have constructed are tempering people.  As an eikon would.”

“Something of that sort, yes,” Kaida said, finally looking to him.  He was already donned in his uniform, its tightness accenting his muscle.  She tried not to stare.  “Two of our best investigated them.  One of them is fighting for his life right now.  It’s not a good situation out there.”

“And that is why you will be returning soon,” Gaius replied.

“Had you not pledged yourself to rebuild Werlyt, I would have asked you to come with me,” Kaida said.  “We could use people like you out there.  Estinien’s even come to help.”

“Has he now?”  He studied her for a moment.  “Things must be dire indeed.  I hear darker tales of the capital.”

“It’s not too late to come with me,” Kaida offered, hoping her voice did not sound too hopeful.  “More than half of Werlyt wants you dead.  I would not put it past them to decide to hold a trial for you once they run out of uses for you.”

A circus of a trial.  We all know where it would lead.

Gaius smirked wryly.  “And they would be right to do so.  Should they decide that is best, I would submit to it.”

“You’re impossible,” Kaida scowled, looking away from him.  A brief image of him knelt before an executioner flashed across her mind.  Chest tightening, she crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself. 

His steps were soft but audible enough that she heard him rise and carry over towards her.  A hand went to her shoulder and her hands gripped her uniform tightly.  She was not sure she could look at him.  Not without thinking of what could happen. 

“I made a vow to my children,” Gaius said.  “I will make sure this place is rebuilt and protected.  They deserved more than what life allotted them.  It’s up to those that remain to carry on the rest.  When all is finished… I cannot say what will come to pass, only that I will accept whatever that may be.”

Her upper lip curled slightly in disbelief.  There had been enough death and pain in this town to drown it in sorrow.  He did not need to add to it.  Kaida’s eyes cut to him in a pinning glare.

“Tell me you wouldn’t stroll up to your own execution, Gaius Baelsar,” the Raen seethed.  “Tell me you wouldn’t leave your daughter alone like that.”

“Is it Allie you’re concerned about?  Or someone else?” Gaius asked her and the question sent fear through her.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Kaida snapped back but the soft touch of his other hand on her shoulder dismantled that building fear and rage.  She averted his gaze.  “Why did you ask me to come here?  You could’ve asked anyone.”

“I was remiss that we did not get much of a chance to pilot the G-Savior together,” Gaius said simply.

“You pulled one of Eorzea’s greatest away from the battlefield for that?” Kaida asked with a slight scoff.

His mouth twisted into a smirk.  “I seem to recall you had the option to say no, Lady Asagiri.”

“T-that I did,” Kaida retorted, cheeks heated.  “But I welcome the distraction and Terncliff is a nice town.”

“It is,” He nodded.  “The test run will begin shortly.  You ought to get dressed.”

She took her uniform and found the dressing stall nearby, pulling the curtain to blot him from her view.  As she began to strip out of both her armor and the clothes underneath, she realized her heart was racing, drumming loud against her chest.  A flushed feeling had swept over her but she tried to ignore it, pulling on her pilot’s gear.  It clung horribly to her, much unlike the armor she was accustomed to.  But she reassured herself it would start to feel natural after a while. 

I can at least help Cid until I’m called back to the fray again, she told herself.  Some time away from the front would be nice.  It’s not like I can do anything else in the meantime.

When Kaida stepped out, she felt his eyes over her in that way that made it hard to focus on anything.  She scratched the back of her nape then ran her gloved fingers through her teal hair. 

“It’s a bit… tight,” she commented.

“Most flight suits are,” Gaius said, not sounding displeased.  She ignored that.

“Is there anything we need to go over before we do the test run?” she asked.

“You’re already familiar with the controls of the G-Warrior.  This will be similar.  I will man the steering and you will have access to the weaponry,” Gaius replied.  “Your seat will be the top one in the cockpit.  We will have to pay attention to what the other is doing in order to operate the warmachina successfully.  A task that should prove inconsequential to a Warrior of Light, I’m sure.”

“I’ll… do my best,” Kaida said. 

We’ll have to work together to do this.  I don’t doubt that we can, but…

Her eyes trailed up to his face.  To that keen look in his eyes.

I know much has changed since Operation Archon.  But every so often, I think back to those days.  Livia and Rhitahtyn are dead because of me.  And he can’t just ignore that…

“… You seem troubled,” Gaius commented.

“I just have a lot on my mind is all,” Kaida deflected rapidly.

“Well, clear your mind of such thoughts—they will not matter during the test flight.  Let us see if Cid is ready for us,” Gaius replied and began towards the door.

She followed him from the locker room back into the hanger.  The flight suit was not as bulky as her Dark Knight’s armor and she could feel a tinge of a chill from the air conditioning unit.  A host of engineers were gathered around the warmachina, which sat docilely in the back.  Its containment unit was still equipped—something Kaida thought was quite silly, given that they would no longer be capturing any Weapons.  Well, that was her hope, at the least. 

Upon their approach, the engineers waved and Cid flashed them a smile.  He tucked the tablet under his arm.

“It looks like the Mark I is ready to go,” he said as they walked over.  “Nero and I set up a module for you to work through.  I’ll be directing you from the comms tower.  Load up when you’re ready.”

“Nero helped?” Kaida asked facetiously.  “Should I be worried?”

“Oh, don’t worry.  I kept an eye on him the entire time,” Cid replied.

“That would explain the Mark II,” Gaius nodded, glancing to where the red-marked machina sat alongside its Mark I brother. 

Cid sighed, a scowl on his face.  “Don’t remind me.”

The way to loading into the Mark I was via catwalk so Gaius and Kaida made their way there, using an iron stairway to climb up.  Kaida’s hand skirted over the railing gently, each step filling her with a concoction of apprehension and excitement.  When she climbed to the top, she saw that the cockpit door had already been opened, exposing both seats.  One chair was positioned behind and above the other.  Gaius had said the top one was hers, she recalled wordlessly as she looked it over.  There were side-panels on either flanks of the chair, equipped with buttons and levers galore.  The other pilot’s chair was slightly lower, with a steering mechanism and a dashboard full of buttons and lights.  One glance at it and she was glad Gaius had been selected to steer the hulking thing.  It seemed too complex for her.

Gaius climbed in first, turning and offering his hand to help her step inside.  She took it, his grip firm.  He pulled her into the cockpit, their chests bumping.  A tingle laced down her spine and she busied herself by getting seated into the top chair.  Anything to stave off that strange, confusing elation in her heart.  She wrote it off as nerves.

He settled into the chair in front of her and she realized their closeness.  Her legs dangled nearly at his sides, back an ilm or two.  His head hovered just behind a blue holo-screen that brimmed to life at her fingertips, displaying the Mark I’s diagnostics.  She told herself not to be unnerved by it; it was fine, just the limitations of the cockpit’s space.  If they were supposed to work together then they would have to be close by to see each other’s movements and communicate.

“That’s… a lot of buttons,” she commented to him, glancing over his shoulder at the dashboard. 

“A few more than Ultima had,” Gaius remarked and Kaida’s stomach twisted.  She did not want to think about that fight.  Not right before having to work with him.  Too many bad memories.  But it felt too late for that, as if ignoring the statement entirely would be more awkward than responding.  So Kaida blurted the first thing that came to mind. 

“There’s not… the one that makes the orbs of aether, is there?  I quite hated that one,” the Raen said and Gaius’s responding smirk was enough to make her smile.

“I recall that.  The swearing was loud enough that it reached the cockpit.”

The smile dropped off her face instantly.

“W-what!?  You heard all of that?”

“I was surprised to hear such foul words come from such a pretty mouth.”

“P-pretty…!?”

Her face ignited with a blush.  Was the Black Wolf… teasing her?  She could scarcely believe it. 

A screen to her left buzzed to life—her saving grace.  Cid’s face filled the majority of it, the camera seemingly broadcasted from his tablet.  She hoped he could not tell how flustered she was.

“We’re going to be opening the hangar doors.  Activate the engines when ready,” he said then the screen disappeared.

“Are you ready?” Gaius asked her.

“As much as I’ll ever be.”

“Good.”

When the G-Savior’s engines roared to life, it did so at a near-deafening volume.  Its hum was a vibration that jarred her, thrumming against her fin-like horns.  She reached out and grabbed two handlebars that jutted from her seat for support, glancing at where the weaponry functions had come to life.  Each weapon’s specs were listed on a screen to her front-right.  And then the controls seemed to line her chair.  An impossible amount of information to take in at once but Kaida told herself to have some amount of confidence.  Surely any pattern of button presses would smash whatever Nero and Cid had planned for them.

They took off into the sky not long after, the process pressing Kaida into her chair.  Gaius moved the machina into the baby blue sky with a stunning expertise.  The G-Savior ascended smoothly, the humble town of Terncliff fading.  They moved so effortlessly that she forgot momentarily about the hulking containment unit attached to their rear.  A map appeared on one of the screens to her left, along with a certain coordinate set. 

“Head this way and we’ll begin the test,” Cid said, reappearing on another screen.  “You’ll know when you’ve arrived at the spot, I don’t think you’ll miss the target.”

“I’m concerned,” Kaida began.

“Haha, don’t be!”

That’s not reassuring, Cid.

The ocean stretched before them and Gaius steered the G-Savior until there was no land to be seen in any direction.  Cid was correct in that the targets were easily spotted a few minutes later.  A large ADS unit hovered just above the calm waves, its ebony hull aglow with cyan lights.  Gaius pulled the G-Savior to a halt, squaring the warmachina off across the ADS. 

“Right, so your objective will be to test the containment unit.  I want you to utilize the G-Savior’s functions to trap the ADS to the best of your ability,” Cid informed them.  “Use whatever methods you think are necessary.  We’ll be measuring the G-Savior’s performance from the shore.  Good luck.”

It sounded simple enough but as with most things, the task proved to be far more difficult than Kaida Asagiri had realized.  The ADS was a swift construct, with Gaius having his hands full pursuing it.  He maneuvered the warmachina to cut off the ADS’s path but the orb jerked suddenly away and Kaida hissed out an exhale in annoyance, looking through the weaponry to find a way to slow it down.  Something was tracking should suffice, she thought, the ADS zipping about in her peripherals. 

“Tell me they had the foresight to equip this with a net,” Gaius grumbled.

“That would be too convenient,” Kaida retorted.  “You’re not getting tired already, are you?”

“‘Tis an annoyance to chase this down,” Gaius replied.

“You know, I could swap roles with you if you should desire,” Kaida said.

“And meet my end at the bottom of the ocean?  I think not, girl.  I saw the way you handled the G-Warrior against the Sapphire Weapon,” Gaius grunted.

“H-hey!” she exclaimed but smiled at that.  Well he certainly was feeling cheeky today. 

Kaida scrolled through the weaponry and opting for the tracking missiles.  If the ADS was busted, it would slow down… right?  Sound logic, at least.  She hit the button and loosed them.  When the missiles struck the construct, they did so with short-lived plumes of fire and smoke marking each hit.  The G-Savior was pressed towards ADS as it rocked in the air then evaded.  Not quite enough to capture it… yet, at least.

The training exercise lasted for the better part of thirty minutes.  Gaius pressed the G-Savior hard, nearly maxing its speed out as they darted over the azure waves.  Kaida manned the gun, aiming for the orb’s hull as best as she could.  A decisive hit to the ADS rattle its systems enough to stun it.  Gaius followed through with the G-Savior’s sword, dashing its hilt across the buzzing orb.  He moved the warmachina beneath it, opening the hatch to the containment unit and rising up to capture the ADS.

“It looks like you completed the objective!” Cid exclaimed.  “And you gave us a lot of data about how the weaponry works alongside the faster move speeds.  Good work, you two!  Return to Terncliff and we’ll be done for the day.”

“A quick test,” Kaida remarked after Cid had vanished from the screen.  “Do you think he’ll have something else for us tomorrow?”

“I already know he does,” Gaius replied as they made their way back to Terncliff.  “Bouts with the G-Savior have to be brief.  It’s expensive to keep it airborne such as this.  The fuel required is enough to power a small castrum.”

“So I suppose I shouldn’t ask him to develop a whole host of these for the fight against the Telophoroi?” Kaida mused.

He smirked wryly, “Would that a fleet of warmachina could fix the world’s problems.”

Oh.  She supposed that was perhaps a sore subject, skirting a little too close to things they were trying to ignore.  Things they were trying not to think about.  Terncliff was a beautiful town but the blood that had been shed here was enough to run the ocean red and stain those perfect white stone buildings.  And while that was true of just about any place in Eorzea, there was something exceptionally sad about that seaside town. 

Her eyes wandered to the back of his head, contemplating his mood.  He seemed… better than he had been the last time she had seen him.  But she wondered how much of that was a front.  Even in the thick of everything happening with his kids, he had maintained a certain stoic behavior.  A defense mechanism, she guessed.  A throwback from his legatus years.

She did not ask about it.  She did not ask how he had been feeling as of late.  It felt wrong to, even as their conversation died away and Terncliff came into sight.  There was nothing to say at this point.  What had happened had already happened.  All they could do was move onward, one foot after the other.

The G-Savior landed in the hanger.  Short conversations were exchanged about the trial run and then Kaida went back to the locker room.  She grabbed her travel clothes from her bag, opting for lighter wear as opposed to her armor.  The armor was taken into hand and shrunk down with magic—a little trick Urianger had taught her to keep things more portable.  Then, it was slid into her bag, safe and sound.

Kaida turned to go to the dressing room in time to see Gaius walk in.  The sight of him in the flight suit was still enough to tug her attention away from what she had been doing.  A hesitation filled her next step, eyes crawling over his torso before remembering herself.  She jerked her head away, swallowing.

“You did well,” he said to her as she slipped into the changing stall. 

“You too,” Kaida replied politely.

“A shame we cannot continue this long-term.  When do you leave?”

“I have plans to return to Mor Dhona the day after tomorrow.”

“I see…”

A distinct melancholy was in his tone, quiet and discontented.  She tried to ignore it as she changed back into her travel wear.  What did he expect from her?  To stay here and test weaponry forever?  There was a war in other parts of the world.  A war that she needed to tend to. 

When she was done slipping back into her clothes, she pulled back the curtain.  Two steps were made to the locker then the sight of him caught her eye again.  Gaius had stripped off the top part of his flight suit, leaving on his tight-fitted pants.  She tried not to stare at what the fabric accentuated, her face flaring a bright crimson.  Thankfully, his attention was on his arm, a fresher scar curled around his forearm.  Kaida hastily moved to her locker, shoving the suit inside and hiding momentarily behind the door.

“T-the changing room… it’s yours.  If… if you want,” she said to him.

“My thanks.”

He slipped inside it and Kaida took the opportunity to flee the scene as quietly as she could muster.  Cid was already spirited away by the engineers to go over the data so she told herself she would catch up with him on the morrow.  She stepped outside.  There was naught to do for a while.  The Ironworks had a room established for her at the local inn but it felt like a crime to turn in early.

Kaida took to wandering Terncliff for the next two hours, looking at the shops and marveling over the town.  It seemed as though more children were playing about the streets now.  Idle chatter on the sidewalks from passerbys made the world of warfare and Telophoroi feel like another lifetime.  She basked in the simplicity as the day passed her by.  It was a welcome reprieve from everything that had happened.  And then the afternoon began to bleed into the evening and the Raen ventured back towards where the cliff dropped off into the serene blue waters below.  She found a spot and let the harmonious quiet reign.

Sunset over the ocean painted the sky above the saltswept town like a painter’s palette.  An array of hues decorated the heavens, the sun an ephemeral glow that was slipping over the horizon.  Kaida watched it from the cliffside balcony, arms resting on the white stone rails.  The ocean glistened and glimmered, the light reflected from it like trapped diamonds in the water.  She mused over the serene ocean for a moment, thinking of the Ruby Sea leagues away and a home that did not quite feel like home anymore.

Idle time gave her mind the opportunity to mull over darker thoughts.  She asked herself why she was doing this—running away from everything that felt like it was too much.  She asked herself when it had started to feel like too much.  Kaida had no answer for either questions.  All she knew was that it was tiring suddenly— “it’ meaning everything.  And the sound of the water was a soothing, comforting lullaby that reminded her of a home she could not return to. 

She chided herself for being so dreary lately.  It was unlike her.  With her chin resting on her hand, her emerald eyes unfocused at the horizon, causing the warm hues of the sky to blend with the colds of the water.  She asked herself what she was doing here once more and when her internal reply was ‘Gaius wants me here’, another part of her laughed humorlessly.  Just thinking his name put a heat in her face.  It had been… years since anyone had made her feel like that and it terrified her when she thought of what sort of territory she was straying towards.  When she closed her eyes, she could still see the hearth in Count de Fortemps’s manor.  She could still remember the sight of him in the light.  Eyes sparkling like azure-toned diamonds, a smile that could have stolen her breath away…

Smile… Go on.  Smile.  He’d want you to.

Footsteps alerted her and she looked back, unsurprised at its owner.  For some reason, him coming here seemed fitting.  As though it were a carefully weaved decision from the kami.  But she turned away from him nearly instantly, her insides feeling like static.  Crackling with emotions that were too confusing to navigate.  Emotions that felt like sins.

“I was hoping I would find you here,” Gaius said to her.

“Oh?” she asked.

“I understand you want to go back to the fray as soon as possible but Cid asked me to ask you to stay at least until the week is through.  Provided there are no changes on the frontline.” He said, footsteps drawing closer and closer, until he was at her side, leaning against the same railing.  Not even half a fulm away. 

Stay?  For a week?  Her gut instinct told her no.  But then she mulled over the idea.  What would she do if she got back to the Rising Stones?  Sit around and wait for the next big thing to happen?  Something someone else could likely take care of?  At least Terncliff was nice.  It was quiet.  It gave her time for introspection.  And piloting the G-Savior had been… fun.  Something she had not experienced in some time.  It was cathartic.

“I can probably manage that,” Kaida said, glancing at him.

“I am glad to hear that, Lady Asagiri,” Gaius replied with the dip of his head.

“You may drop the formalities, Baelsar.  Lady Asagiri… that’s what people call my mother.”

And I am not her.  Much to her disapproval.

“Kaida…” he said softly.

The sound of her first name on his tongue was strange to hear.  But not unwelcome.  Not unpleasant.

She turned her green eyes to the distant horizon again.  The breeze was getting colder now as the sun waned.  And overhead, the colors had begun to fade already, giving way to the purple-black of the night sky.  Stars peered down at them.  And Kaida knew it would be time to retire for the night soon.

“You know, in all the time I have spent in Terncliff, not once have I eaten at any of the local restaurants,” Kaida mused aloud, straightening her posture.  “And I neglected to pack food this time.  H-have you… had dinner yet?”

“I have not,” Gaius replied carefully.

“Care to shed any light on where one could get food nearby?” Kaida asked.

“I may know a few places,” Gaius said, giving a small pause.  Then he asked, “Are you… asking me to dinner?”

“I…” Kaida opened her mouth, feeling that heat reign supreme in her face.  Scarlet-cheeked, she crossed her arms.  “I thought perhaps it would be better to dine with someone rather than… a-a-alone.  And I do not know where to go for food, so… it’s practical.”

Practical.  Not wishful.  Not hopeful.  Practical.  Just a meal shared between colleagues.

He smirked and she hated that.  Ohhhh she hated that.  That smugness in the curl of his lip.  That keenness in his pale eyes.  That cocky stance of his.  It made her crave her armor.  It made her want to wilt on the spot.

“Come.  There is a place not far from here,” Gaius replied.

And as the sun sank in the backdrop of the quiet seaside town, the two departed for dinner.

Chapter Text

It was not lost on her that they made a weird sight.  Gaius Baelsar, the Black Wolf.  A man with atrocities bound to his name.  A conqueror.  A war tactician.  Someone who had tried to kill her before, multiple times.  And Kaida Asagiri.  A Warrior of Light.  They called her a hero.  A savior.  She could not imagine two people that were more different.  One revered, one despised. 

Kaida sat across from him at a quaint little café, outside on the porch.  The sun had set and the lanterns nearby had kicked in.  It made for a leisurely evening under the stars.  But all of such pleasantries were lost on her.  Her mind was firmly fixated upon the awkward situation, hoping that each second that ticked by would make this somehow seem normal.  But they didn’t.  She retraced her steps, musing over how she got herself into this situation.  Cursing her stupidity and her clumsy tongue. 

She hid on the other side of her menu—not that it was difficult to do that.  The menu was tall, easy to take shelter behind.  She was not sure what she would do when the waitress took it away.  There was no smalltalk between them to fill the stiff silence.  Kaida was not sure where to begin.  Should she talk about the G-Savior?  Should she talk about what was going on to the south?  Should she ask him about Allie again?  She fumbled and grasped for what to talk about—something she felt she had never struggled with before.  But he made things different.  He made everything different.

“If you’re laboring to make a selection,” Gaius began passively.  “I would recommend one of their hot sandwiches.”

Kaida peered over the top of the menu, finding his stare there upon her.  Picking her apart like it always did.  She quickly turned her attention back to the food options in front of her, the brisk breeze off the ocean unfelt as she tried not to melt in a self-conscious puddle.  A conversation topic was sorely needed.  So, naturally, Kaida blurted the first thing that came to mind.

“Are you not scared they’ll poison you?  Dining out in public, I mean,” Kaida commented, eyes skirting over the hot sandwiches.    

“No,” Gaius said.  “There are many here who would love to see my head roll.  But they appreciate their liberation.  Enough to spare me a death in the alleyways or an unceremonious end at poison.”

I suppose that’s a good thing…

The waitress came by and took their orders.  And when she left, his yellow eyes flicked back to Kaida.  Lips pursed.  Thoughtful.  There was no menu to act as a shield now and she thought about how nice it would be wither away on the spot.  She distracted herself with a sip from her water glass, the cold refreshing taste of the beverage beating back the growing warmth in her face.

“How fares Cassandra?” Gaius asked.

“Fine,” Kaida said quickly—too quickly to be socially acceptable.  She decided to follow it up with something.  Anything to make it seem like she was not as nervous as she was.  She did not want the Wolf teasing her about this next.  “Busy.  Although that could be said for most of the Scions.  My offer to help us still stands.”

He smiled sadly.  “Would that I could abandon my post here.  Werlyt remains in too precarious a situation to abandon.”

“I can understand that.  But are politics really your style?” 

She almost called him ‘Wolf’ but she remembered herself.  There did not need to be any eyes prying into their impromptu meeting.  Nor any rumors about their starlit dining in a quaint, seaside café.

“Do you believe me a man of the battlefield only?” he asked her with a quirked brow.

That pressing stare made it hard to verbally joust him but by the kami, Kaida would try.

“The battlefield or the debate hall,” Kaida responded.

“You are making implications, my lady,” Gaius’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought.

Her smile in return was cheeky, feeling herself ease slightly.  “Only that you seem to like to make speeches.”

“Are you averse to—”

Kaida’s linkpearl buzzed—cutting him off.  She drew it close to her horn for a second, worried that something drastic had changed on the front.  But as soon as she could hear the myriad of voices on the other line, she realized it was a series of reports from Bozja to the Rising Stones.  It seemed as though the squadron that had left that morning was still en route to their destination.  She did not envy them in the slightest.

Kaida lowered the linkpearl with the shake of her head, dropping it into her bag and praying to the kami and Twelve both that nothing important happened while she was dining.  She understood it was selfish.  But she also understood she would go mad if she kept hearing the pearl buzzing with intel being passed about.

“I haven’t asked you much about how Terncliff has fared since I was last here,” Kaida said, digging for a topic they could discuss.  “The kids that were rescued from van Varro’s barracks…”

“All have been adopted properly by willing families and are receiving guidance from trained specialists,” Gaius said levelly.

Her eyes widened slightly, impressed.  “I should think they would need that.  Given what they probably saw there.”  She paused then added.  “You… never told me what happened to him.  The legatus.”

“Dead,” Gaius replied simply.  A sharpness in his eye told a story but Kaida did not press him for it.  He took a sip from his glass.  “A concern to us no more… however…”

His expression darkened.

“When the Diamond Weapon destroyed the castrum at Werlyt, I was distinctly under the impression from the report that all of its military personnel had been eliminated.  Of the commanding officers, of course.  I imagine a fair amount were conscripts looking for a chance to escape.  But going over the wreckage report…” Gaius’s mouth dipped into a concerned frown.  “It would seem no tribuni were among the dead.”

“You think they survived?” Kaida asked.

“I merely wonder what it could imply,” Gaius said lightly.  “At this point, what legatus still remain seem to be acting out of their own self-interests.  And Zenos does little to rope them back together.”

Garlemald is falling to pieces.  Figuratively and… literally.

“Zenos has never been the type to care for the throne,” Kaida commented sourly.

“A boy unchanging since his youth,” Gaius remarked.

“I… suppose I never thought of that.  You must have seen him grow up,” Kaida began.

“I did, in a way.  He did not care for politics then.  He surely does not now,” Gaius said.  “This power vacuum will swallow Garlemald if it is not corrected.  And I am of the opinion Zenos does not intend to correct it… though, I suppose there would have to be a Garlemald left in order for that to occur.”

“I’m… sure there’s something we can do,” Kaida replied.  “And you could always come with us.  I’m sure your intel would be valuable.”

The Black Wolf was pensive at that.  His fingers ran along his gruff, bristly jawline.  “Once Werlyt is secure, I will consider it.  If I am permitted to do so.”

Her brow furrowed.

“It will be a matter of Werlyt and Ala Mhigo deciding something crucial,” Gaius said, a lightness about his tone.  “And that will be if they consider me more valuable alive than dead.”

Ah… that topic again.  Kaida shifted in her chair uncomfortably.  There had been a time in which she would have gladly seen him to an execution but those days were long passed.  A faint memory, like a lifetime lived by two other individuals.  Everything had changed since he had come back and she had initially been loath to admit it at first.  But then he had wanted her help with the Weapons.  And working so close to someone, even an enemy, made one realize the humanity behind them.  But of course that complicated things, made the world seem less black and white.  She tried to hold onto those feelings from before.  Fearing the Black Wolf, hating him.

But she had never been one to hold anger like that, even when she believed she should have.  It was… confusing.  Knowing his men had been the ones to cause the massacre in the Waking Sands.  Knowing he would have killed her years ago if he could.  She struggled with that thought sometimes but she attributed that cruelty to the helmet he had worn back then.  Not to the man in front of her.  Her dinner date, she reminded herself sharply.  It made no damn sense why her mind worked the way it did.  But she told herself to not dig too deep into it.  She didn’t… want to hate him.  And that was something she had realized midway during their time working together.   

It was far more recent that she realized that “not wanting to hate” had evolved further.  But what it was now… she could not say.  She would not say.

“I doubt they can find a reason your corpse would be more helpful than you alive,” Kaida said when she realized she had gone silent for just a little too long.  “And I… I could always put in a good word for you.”

His gaze bore through her, dissecting that statement.  She was not sure why that scared her so.

“I-I just think…” the Raen continued hastily, before she could even form a proper explanation.  “… that killing people doesn’t have to be the answer all the time.  I don’t like war or death.”

“A curious statement from one whose profession stems from war and death.”

“And what is that supposed to mean, Baelsar?”

“Would you not be a Warrior of Light if Hydaelyn and her realms were peaceful?”

“I… suppose not.”

A curl of his lip—smugness.  She felt herself flush slightly, saved by the arrival of the waitress and their food.  Two plates were slid in front of them both.  In front of Gaius, a sandwich that had been perfectly toasted, its innards seeping with lettuce, melted cheese, and meat.  And in front of Kaida, a similar sight, though the meats and cheeses had been changed.  A side salad was placed next to her and a steaming bowl of soup placed before him. 

“I only am a Warrior of Light out of necessary,” Kaida said to him as she grabbed her fork and picked at a leaf of lettuce.  “I originally signed up to join the Scions as a medic.”

“I am aware,” Gaius came his reply and her gaze tore from her food to him.  He looked nonchalant as he bit into his sandwich.  A hearty bite, one that annihilated a good portion of his meal.

“I suppose I should ask how you know that.  But you’ve been well-informed in the past about… other matters,” Kaida said awkwardly.

“When I was legatus, I had near infinite resources.  And I spared no expense at learning all I could of the enemy.”

“You… paid people to dig up dirt on me.”

“I paid for reconnaissance and intelligence.”

“You just said the same thing I did but with bigger words, Baelsar.”

“Perhaps.”

Another cheeky, confident curl of his lip. 

“Why did you decide to not be the Mark I’s pilot?” Kaida asked him as she ate.

He hesitated, leisurely stirring his soup with his spoon.  “I thought it best that a fresh team in its entirety go to the Mark I, rather than just one new pilot.  I understand most of the applicants are Werlytian military.  And I should think their discomfort quite high at piloting a warmachina alongside the man who conquered their homeland once…”

“And…?”

“I cannot protect Werlyt forever.  Nor by myself.  I am no fool.  They will find success if they are set up for it.  And that is what I intend to do.”

That sounded reasonable enough.  But that meant he ran the risk of the Werlytians opting to take their revenge sooner than later.  The thought sent waves of unease through her.  She picked at her salad, trying to swallow down her anxiety.  Cid would not let them cart him away for an execution, would he?  Severa would protect him… right?  Valdeaulin said he had turned over a new leaf… But what did it even matter?  Kaida knew they could only do so much when Gaius was all but willing to throw himself onto the guillotine for his crimes.  The Raen huffed out a sigh.  The man made this too difficult.

They finished their food and before Kaida could find the gil to pay from her wallet, Gaius dropped a hefty handful of coins into the waitress’s palm.  The Raen felt her face warm with a blush, watching with mouth agape as the waitress accepted the payment and all but giddily retreated back into the café proper. 

“Slow,” he said with a ‘tsk’ in his tone.

“You did not have to do that.”

“And yet I did.”

“W-why?”

He stared at her for a few seconds, finishing his glass of water.   When the glass was lowered onto the table, the ice inside clinked.  Gaius had a calmness about him that befitted the wind off of the ocean and the scent it brought of saltswept waves.  His amber eyes were mesmerizing to look at in the dim light of the lanterns, the glow they cast making them look like shining pieces of gold.

“Because I desired to.  And naught more,” came his reply, in a soft tone that only accented the huskiness of his voice. 

It was soon time to depart, the night carrying past its early hours.  The morning would see them both back at the hanger and Kaida knew she had to rest well before then.  More trials would no doubt await them and she knew she had to be ready for whatever madness Cid threw at them next.  Both she and Gaius exited the café, the lampposts lighting their way down the pleasant stone street.  She turned to him.

“Thank you for dinner.”

“My pleasure.”

Stoic, polite, gruff.  She supposed it would be best to leave their interaction at that and go their separate ways.  But then she realized Cid had been the one to organize her sleeping quarters.  It was a room in a nearby inn, close to where the G-Savior was being kept.  She supposed it was likely this was the inn everyone involved in the project was staying at. 

“I’m… going to head to my quarters,” Kaida said to Gaius.  “It’s getting late and I want to make sure I’m not falling asleep in the cockpit tomorrow.”

He looked slightly amused at that but nodded, beginning in the direction of the inn.  Unbidden.  The Raen’s emerald eyes trailed after him before her feet chose to follow.  He walked slightly ahead of her, a looming figure upon Terncliff’s streets. 

“You’re… staying at the same inn, I presume?” Kaida asked, the silence between them awkward.

“Yes,” Gaius replied.  “Cid insisted it.”

“You… are returning back then too?” Kaida asked him, realizing keeping the silence may have been preferable to her awkward bumbling.

“… I thought it polite to walk you to your destination,” Gaius said blandly.

“O-oh!” Kaida’s eyes widened.  “Well… erm… T-t-thank you...”

I am a menace when it comes to social graces and not in the way Mother wanted.

“And I planned to return, yes,” Gaius finished and they carried on with the Raen praying the light from the lanterns was not enough to show her embarrassment.

The inn came into sight and they both passed through the front door.  A man was waiting for her at the front desk, sliding a key to her.  She took it, received the room number, then thanked him.  Gaius carried on towards a hall leading into the back of the inn, where the rooms sat in a line.  She chased after him, briskly walking to catch up.  By the time she did, he had made it to the door to his room—three doors down the hall from her own.  And without so much as a farewell for the evening.  She thought to tease him for that but still felt ruffled from before.  Kaida cleared her throat.

“Good night, Gaius,” she said to him.

“You as well.”  Crisp and to the point.  Just like the rest of Gaius Baelsar.

The room they had set aside for her was pleasant and quaint.  A queen-sized bed sat in the middle of the room, its wooden headboard pressed against the white walls.  Lanterns were fixed into the walls, their glow carrying a soft white hue.  A closet sat diagonal from the bed and a small table was on the bedside’s left.  The curtains billowed like puffy clouds, dancing on the breeze.  A balcony rested on the other side of them, overlooking the ocean.  Kaida realized the glass door was partially open and slid it shut with a bit of remorse.  The smell of the ocean reminded her of her birthplace beneath the Ruby Sea—leagues upon leagues away.

Kaida began putting away her belongings, realizing she was far more tired than she had thought.  As she walked by, she took note of a collection of envelopes sitting next to her bedside.  A scrap of paper sat atop of them, written in Cid’s crisp handwriting.

“A postmoogle dropped these by after you had left.  Looks like it’s a series of reports from the Scions.”

She sighed, massaging her forehead as she grabbed the first letter and began going over its contents.  A map of Hydaelyn was given to her with each tower location marked in red ink.  Instinctively, her eyes darted to the Ruby Sea, spying the closest tower.  Yanxia—not far but not on the doorstep of her homeland.  A tiny, tiny sigh of relief passed over her lips then she went to the next message.  More reported of tempered scouts, this time from the Shroud—Alisaie was seeing to them already.  A report from Pagl’than.  The Amalj’aa were pleased with the aid received but the tower was still considered a danger zone.  A report from Estinien, that Tiamat was recovering from her fight with the Lunar Bahamut and that she would be conducting Meracydian funeral rites for her fallen children.  A report from Doma on increased imperial activity at their borders.  A report from--

She threw the letters to the side, tearing her gaze away from them.  The balcony called to her and she slipped out the glass door, letting the sea breeze trickle through her hair.  Savoring the smell it brought.  She leaned against the railing, palm against the scales of her forehead, staring out across the indigo waters.

What in the hells am I doing here?  I should go back.

Tataru had told her that there was not much left to do but wait until the Scions could determine the next move.  But that did not stop the guilt nor the restlessness that came with it.  She warred back and forth with herself, rubbing her scaled forehead.

I came here for a break and I’m already telling myself I shouldn’t have.  Could it be that I’ve forgotten how to relax…? 

Perish the damn thought.  Kaida laughed at her own stupidity.

Okay.  No reading reports until I’m back in Mor Dhona.  If Eorzea catches on fire, I’ll probably see it from this side of the sea.

She returned back inside after much debate, knowing that sleep was needed before the sun rose again.  Kaida finished putting away her belongings, checked both doors to ensure they were locked, then got ready for bed.  She flopped onto the mattress on her back, feeling it bounce her slightly.  And then Kaida slid under the covers and nestled herself into their warmth.  When her face hit the pillow, a strange thought passed over her mind about the evening.  Had that been… the first time someone had ever paid for one of her meals?  Her arms tightened around her pillow.  That thought left a weird feeling in her stomach.  Light as a butterfly’s wings, putting a smile on her face. 

Yet Kaida told herself not to dwell on it.  She did not want to make things any more awkward than they already had been.  But it was still Gaius Baelsar she thought of when she drifted to sleep.  A far more intriguing topic for her mind to digest rather than the flood of reports.  She was certain she knew where the postmoogle could stuff the next batch that came in. 

“You’re back awfully late,” was Allie’s initial greeting to him from where she sat in a cushioned chair nearby.  A book sat before her, some science fiction novel from the looks of it.  Her pale lavender eyes glittered at him expectantly, the corners of her mouth upturned in a small smile.  “Well, late for you.”

Gaius Baelsar seldom felt guilty about anything he did regarding his personal life, for that was his and his alone to keep.  But on that night, he felt guilty and for reasons he knew all too well.  And so, the Black Wolf decided on deception, knowing he could lie as smoothly as water ran a river’s course.  His daughter did not need to know every aspect of his life.  Especially the parts that might raise eyebrows.

His amber gaze cut from Allie to the closet, removing his overcoat and sliding it onto a hanger neatly.  Cid had been gracious enough to pay for a suite for the both of them.  A bedroom lay in the back with two small beds and in the front was a living room area.  At first, Gaius had been unsure about sharing quarters with his adopted daughter.  She was a young woman now, far from the child he had plucked from the rubble.  But she had insisted—it gave them more time together and that was something sorely needed.

“I had dinner,” Gaius said evasively.

“Dinner… plans?” Allie prompted curiously.

“Not planned.”

“Oh.  Is Nero back?”

“Mm.  No.”

“No news on the Mark II?”

“Not as of yet.”

She looked disappointed.  “Well, I’m still looking for permanent quarters for the both of us.  I know Cid cannot afford to house us here forever on his own coin.  There are houses to north side of town.”

It was Allie that wanted to stay here and of course he would entertain the idea for as long as he was able to.  But Gaius was no fool; there was no chance that Terncliff could ever be his permanent home.  Not after everything he had done.  But seeing to it that his daughter had some semblance of stability was a father’s duty.  And he would not shirk it.  Even if he could not stay here, he would ensure she would be able to. 

“I’ve seen them.  Large houses, costly things.  I do not have the resources that I did in Garlemald, Allie,” Gaius replied, perhaps too curtly.  The Raen’s mouth dipped into a frown, chasing after him as he wandered to the couch and sat stiffly down.  His back grumbled about the day’s events.

“I know that,” Allie replied.  “Perhaps all too well.”

He leaned his head back against the top of the couch, closing his eyes with a stifled sigh.  The estate he had once held was likely sold by now, his fortune seized by the Frumentarium.  When he had fallen at Castrum Meridianum, it had been thought he had left behind no heirs—only wards and concubines, with no right to claim any of his belongings.  It would have all gone to his siblings until the rumor had surfaced that he had been responsible for Varis’s death.  And then whatever remained would have been taken back by the government.  Any who had associated with him would be shamed, their social standing heavily decreased in the eyes of the public.  A traitor’s penalty.  And everyone who had fraternized with him would have suffered for it.  Years ago, that would have made him angry.  But now, he saw it for the petty set of performances that it all had been. 

The Baelsar name was beyond tainted at this point, his brother a disgraced military officer and Gaius himself a declared traitor to the empire.  All that remained was his sister, who had no doubt blissfully tossed away her family ties to save face.  Gaius thought no less of her for it—she was entangled in that life of cruelty still, as he had been.  But one day, he would see them all out of the spider’s web.  One way or another. 

A sigh passed over him.  He feared what had become of his loved ones in the wrecked city of Garlemald but there was no way to reach out.  No way to determine their fate nor the fate of those who had served in his house.  He could only hope they had estranged themselves from the brooding conflict between would-be heirs and Zenos yae Galvus.

“So how is Kaida?” Allie asked in that innocent tone of hers.

The Black Wolf’s eyes snapped open, pupils darting in her direction.

“She fares well.”

“Good,” Allie replied. “Do you… suppose it would be awkward if I talked to her?  I understand she was pivotal in fighting against the Weapons…”

“I am sure whatever conflict you may have had in the past will be ignored given that we are all working towards the same goal.”

“Oh… right,” Allie said, a tiny smile on her lips.  “I suppose you would know better than anyone.”

He grunted his reply, wearied and trying to convince himself to retire for the evening.  Gaius’s hands found his hairline, fingers combing through his salted hair.  When he did eventually decide to pick himself up, his tiredness only became more pronounced.  Each step was a thud against the inn floor as he made his way to towards the bathroom, which was situated between the living room and the bedroom.

“I have plans with Avilina tomorrow,” Allie said to him as he passed by.  “So if I’m not back until late, don’t worry.”

“You have not had any harassment on the streets, have you?” he asked.

“No.  I don’t think most people know we’re related,” she answered.

“Good.  Do not stay up too late,” he said.

“Yes, Father,” Allie said with a small chuckle.

After changing into more comfortable clothes in the bathroom, Gaius stepped out and tossed a gander about the bedroom.  The wind blew in from an open window and as much as he liked the ambient noise it brought, he closed it for security reasons.  His finger flicked the lock and he found his bed shortly after.  Heirsbane rested against the wall nearby, within reach from where he laid down. 

Sleep did not come instantly, leaving him to dwell on the day’s events.  Leaving him to dwell on her.  She was a peculiar creature, Kaida Asagiri.  He knew not what to make of her at times, a veritable demon on the battlefield but a blushing maid besides.  She reminded him of how all things were complicated, how nothing was simple.  And though he loathed complication, he had long embraced how intrinsic it was in the world.  Perhaps that was why he did not admonish himself for his feelings.  He knew they were the culmination of a thousand factors over their winding paths that had collided time and time again.  But as much as he acknowledged that his eyes lingered too long on her, that a smile often plagued his lips when he saw her, and that a rush carried through his veins when she was near… such things were discarded into the depths of his mind.  Locked away, where they belonged.  For there was no point in pursuing such, Gaius Baelsar thought.  A Warrior of Light and a man who had made his wages on death and destruction.  Complication allowed much but not everything.  And he was wise enough to know that.

And so his mind turned to more productive things than boyish wants and desires.  He thought of the trials they would face on the morrow and steeled himself for them.  He thought of finding a way to afford a proper home for Allie.  He thought of the people in Garlemald he had left behind, wondering if they hated him.  Wondering if they spat on his name.  And if they did?  Good, thought Gaius Baelsar as the sweet call of sleep beckoned him.  Good.

Chapter Text

Kaida was not sure what to expect from the day when she awoke, cladding herself in simple casual clothes for the stroll to the hanger.  She ate a piece of bread on the way, nibbling and marveling at the feel of the sun on her skin.  Children were playing in the streets, their laughter ringing out between the white stone buildings.  The serenity that had taken this town was so alluring that the fight against the Telophoroi seemed a world apart.

The hanger soon came into sight and Kaida slipped through the door.  Cid and Nero were the first people she noticed, standing in the middle of the hanger.  They appeared to be conversing about something casually.  It was a rare sight, seeing both engineers talking in a matter that did not involve banter.  Kaida was almost certain something had gone horribly wrong to warrant their cordial cooperation.  But the closer she drew to them, the more she realized the truth of it.  Nero was chatting excitedly away as Cid clung to a cup of coffee, looking as though he had not slept at all. With Nero doing all the talking and Cid doing all of the drinking, it left little time for them to bicker.  Her mouth upturned in the smallest of smiles at that, approaching them and then glancing up at where they were observing the Mark I, which had lost the containment unit strapped to its back.

“Oh, there you are,” Cid said to her.  “Good morning!”

“Good morning,” Kaida replied then said to Nero. “I see you’re here for this round of testing.”

“Yes, yes, ferry came in late last night but we managed to get all of the new adjustments completed this morning,” Nero said with one of his typical smirks.

“Who managed to complete the adjustments…?” Cid grumbled with another sour sip of his coffee. 

Nero ignored him, fingers drumming rapidly over the side of a mug of coffee.  “If everything is in order, the Mark I should be moving faster than ever before. 

“Good to hear, though I suppose that’s mostly something Gaius will have to deal with,” Kaida replied.

“Oh, we did install some new weaponry but it’s… mostly in beta testing,” Nero added.  “Really, alpha testing, if I’m quite honest with you.  I have no idea how the high-powered lasers will detract from the engines.  It could be perfectly fine or we could be forced to install a supplement power supply for the engines so they don’t die in the midst of combat.”

“Why not just go ahead and install it to be safe?” Kaida asked.

“Frankly, I’m not sure where we would put it,” Nero answered with a slight frown. “Not without having to restructure the entire torso.  A feat that could take a moon at the least.”

“Right…” Kaida sighed.  “Well, let’s hope it works.  I’ll go get dressed and we can get this started.”

As she had the day before, she wandered back to the locker room, opening the door without a second thought.  Two steps were taken before she caught sight of him sitting on one of the benches.  He was only partially clad in his flight suit, his lower half covered in tight pants that clung to the muscle of his thighs and calves.  His stomach and chest were exposed, pale yellow eyes keenly glancing over his exposed arm before gradually winding their way towards her. 

“Good morning,” he said in his usual husky tone.

Kaida felt as though her feet had merged to the ground, unable to move.  Her heart sang a loud rhythm that vibrated all the way up to her fin-like horns.  It was hard to swallow, hard to tear her eyes off of him.  Gaius adjusted his sitting position, stretching his legs out.  The overhead lights gave his umber skin a pleasant glow.  Shadows were cast in the curves of his muscle, which had been built over a lifetime of war.  A mess of hair covered the top of his chest, trailing down the middle of his stomach towards… She tried not to look at the distinct lump at his groin, a flash of heat crossing her face.  Even being this close to him like this felt sinful and she was certain her ancestors were screaming in anguish at the wordless marvel that crossed her mind.  Shameful but intrigued.

It was with great difficulty that she proceeded towards the locker with her uniform, too tongue-tied to greet him.  She opened it, finding that the uniform had been cleaned overnight and took it into her hands.  Kaida forced herself to stare at it as if her life depended on it.  She did not want to look back and let him know she was blushing.

“Morning,” finally the Raen managed, gulping down buckets of saliva that had gathered into her mouth.  Kami above, why did he make her feel like this?  It was borderline torture…

A deep breath and Kaida told herself it was fine.  She could do this.  She could look at Gaius Baelsar shirtless and not make it weird.  She forced normalcy into her demeanor with every onze of her might and turned on her heel to go to the changing room.  At once her eyes snapped in his direction, seeing how he had grabbed the upper half of his uniform and was starting to pull it on.

“You appear…” Gaius said, not looking at her.  “… unwell.”

“Just tired,” Kaida said so quickly her words sounded slurred.  She caught his scrutinizing look before fleeing into the sanctuary of the changing room. 

When she re-emerged, she did so clad in her uniform.  The clothes she had changed out of were stuffed clumsily into the locker, the door shut before they could tumble out.  Gradually, she realized he was staring at her and her gaze swept over to him.  A tiny bit of her was sad that he had finished getting dressed.

“Do you recall what I said last night of the VIIth Imperial Legion’s tribuni at Castrum Collinum?” Gaius asked her.

A strangely abrupt question.

“Yes.  That none of them were listed among the dead.”

“Valdeaulin noted a contingent leaving the castrum prior to the Weapon’s rampage,” Gaius informed her.  “And they have not been accounted for since.”

“And you think the tribuni went with them?” Kaida asked.

“I believe it possible.  Nevertheless, a missing contingent of Imperial soldiers is… troubling, even if their castrum lies in ruins,” Gaius said.

“The way you’re talking.  You already have a plan, don’t you?” Kaida asked.

“I do,” the Black Wolf replied.  A small curl of his lip. 

“Well, let us hear it,” Kaida prompted a tad impatiently.

“A contingent of Imperial forces will need to rest somewhere and given that Werlyt is out of their control, they will need to be careful about where they go,” Gaius said.  “Their outposts lay in ruins.  Castrum Collinum… less so.  Though the Diamond Weapon went on a rampage in the scientific wing of the castrum, it left certain areas largely undamaged.  I believe that was… intentional.”

Kaida’s gaze narrowed slightly, trying to understand.

“The Diamond Weapon aimed only to slay those that contributed willfully to its creation.  Those who had no qualms about shedding blood for the sake of innovation,” Gaius continued.  His tone dipped slightly and he averted his gaze, a thoughtful gleam in his irises.  “If I were a rogue contingent that feared being caught, was surrounded by enemies, and had no homeland to return to… I would think the ruins of the castrum a perfect place to seek shelter.”

“Would they not be concerned about the Werlytians crawling about the ruins?” Kaida asked.

“No,” Gaius answered.  “Because other than a cursory check, the castrum lies abandoned and untouched.  Even by the people of Werlyt.”

“So you… want to go look and see if they’re there?”

“Yes.  And if they should not be, I would like to see their records.”

“Records?”

“A list of the personnel, specifically.”

“Why?”

The Black Wolf fell silent for a moment, eyes darting back to her.  For a moment, he looked unsure how to proceed, lips parted slightly. 

“I have questions.  That is all.”

“Then when do we leave?”

“I do not believe I asked you to accompany me,” Gaius said and the Raen’s brows arched.

“Well, you certainly didn’t tell me all of that in order for me to ignore it, did you?” she challenged him.

“I did not presume to take time from your busy schedule.”

“I’m already taking time off to stay here in Terncliff.”

“Be that as it may, I will not ask this of you.”

“Then don’t, but I’m coming with you.”

“Why?”

Kaida Asagiri was taken aback by that question.  Why indeed?  Perhaps it was because she liked following through with everything.  Perhaps it was because the thought of Werlyt being under threat again appealed to her as a Warrior of Light—that constant feeling of having to protect.  Perhaps it was because of that look in his eye—distant, as though something unsaid was pulling at him.  She thought again about how he had not answered fully as to what happened to Valens van Varro or the Diamond Weapon after she left.

“Because I want to,” came her defiant answer and Gaius telltale smirk returned.

“Far be it for me to stop you, then.  We will go tomorrow, after the test flight.”

The duo returned to the hanger, finding Cid’s mood soured even further as Nero carried on with his caffeine-induced episode of hyperactivity.  He fervently went over the diagnostics, sipping from his mug and rattling off orders to one of the nearby engineers, who looked equally as tired.

“I just got a message from Lilja,” Cid said.  “It seems like the Bozjan Resistance is pushing past the Southern Front.  The IVth legion is starting to fall to pieces.”

His pale eyes moved to Gaius for a moment but the Black Wolf said nothing. 

“Well, that’s good news,” Kaida replied.

“I may need to help them with their defenses as they continue to push forward.  But we will worry about that later.  I want to make sure we make the most of our time while we have you here, Kaida,” Cid said.

“If it’s anything like the last time the Resistance had a major push, I may end up going with you,” Kaida remarked.

“You’ll be going nowhere until we get all of our data,” Nero said upon his approach, a twitch about his fingers, his hair slightly disheveled from thumbing through it, and distinct shadows under his eyes. 

“I already said that,” Cid scowled at him.

“And I am only reiterating it,” Nero replied lightly, looking Gaius and Kaida up and down.  “I hope the both of you slept well.  This trial will prove to be much more difficult than the rather elementary one designed by Cid.  As mentioned earlier, we have added new weaponry and functions, although we’re unsure if they will be able to perform in a stable fashion.  And though I would love to give you all of the details, I daresay Garlond may pass out from exhaustion before we’re done at this rate.  So why don’t we expedite this and I can explain everything to you after you’ve gotten into the G-Savior.  Oh, and you may notice it is a bit… Less cumbersome.”

“You removed the containment apparatus,” Gaius observed.

“Well, given that we no longer have need of capturing a Weapon, I thought it best to do away with that,” Nero replied with the flamboyant wave of his hand.  “And Garlond agreed; it was made specifically for the Diamond Weapon, after all.  Now that the warmachina is to be used for defense, it does not need such an addition.”

“Then… doesn’t that make it the G-Warrior again?” Kaida asked.

“We thought about that but the locals were fond of G-Savior as a name,” Cid said.  “‘Saviors of Werlyt’ and all that.  I must say, it does have a nice ring to it.”

Gaius grunted, looking up at the warmachina with a distant gleam about his eyes.

“Well, let us proceed,” Nero said after a moment of quiet and both pilots began up the stairs to load into the G-Savior.

She trailed along after Gaius, hand skirting over the railing once more.  The cockpit of the G-Savior was already opened for them and they both settled in—Gaius offering Kaida a hand to help her inside once more.  She took it, his grip stronger than she had anticipated as he pulled her from the catwalk to the cockpit.  Lightly, they bumped into each other and she averted her gaze as she picked her way carefully to the seat that held the armament controls. 

The cockpit closed and the G-Savior began its pre-launch diagnostics check.  Blue hologram screens ignited to life all around them, displaying certain properties that were being looked over before the warmachina fully booted up.  Kaida noticed a large red button on her right to skip the pre-launch check in case of an emergency and though she was tempted to push it, she refrained.  Gaius refrained as well, keenly looking at the reports flying in from the computer.

When it finished, its engines brimmed to life with a gentle purr that crescendoed into a roar.  Kaida could tell just from the noise that the machina had been altered significantly since the previous day.  How in the world they had managed to perform so many tasks on it was beyond her but that was simply how Cid and Nero were—dedicated workers.  Sometimes, too dedicated.

“All right, it looks like the G-Savior is ready for launch,” Cid announced over the machina’s intercom.  “The hanger doors are open.  Depart when ready.”

Not a minute later, they were soaring into the cloudy blue skies above Terncliff, a liberating feeling as the azure-roofed buildings fell away under them.  The white-capped waves of the ocean spread before them.  It was a good day for a flight; the wind pressed against the warmachina’s back and stirring the waters below as they flew overhead.

The area where the trial would be held was the same as the day before—over open ocean and far from Terncliff.  Three ADS nodes were hovering pleasantly above the waters—two triangles and a sphere.  Red markings ran over the course of their bodies, glowing with a faint pulse.  Gaius slowed the G-Savior.

“All right, we’re going to try some of the new weaponry today.  Kaida, this will mostly involve you,” Cid said.  “We’ve upgraded the G-Savior’s sword to feature a trigger similar to that of a gunblade.  When the G-Savior activates it, it will send a few small missiles towards whatever enemy Gaius is locked on.  I know it will require a bit of synergy to get it to work.  The idea is if you embed the blade into something, the missiles hitting it will give you an upper hand in overpowering or cutting through.”

“Got it,” Kaida replied.

“We also have a cannon installed called the Alpha Cannon.  It’s located just under the cockpit.  We took the Aether Cannon and decided to make some changes to it.  Experimental stuff, really.  Theoretically, it’s a stronger blast but it may detract from your energy levels so be careful,” Cid continued.  “The Pyretic Booster and Aetherial Aegis are largely unchanged but you may notice that the Pyretic Booster will now no longer significantly tax the G-Savior.”

“You are welcome for that, by the way,” Nero chimed in from the background.

“That should be all you need to know for today’s test run,” Cid said, ignoring him.  “And now, to explain the nodes.  Your objective is to destroy the sphere.  The two triangles will act as support for it.  All three of them have been given permissions to fire back but they will cease if the G-Savior’s integrity reaches a certain threshold.”

“Understood,” Gaius said.

“All right.  Let’s get this started.  Best of luck to both of you.”

The three nodes flashed a signal warning chime and the fight commenced.  Gaius threw the G-Savior to the right, strafing as the nodes opened fire.  Kaida charged the Alpha Cannon, watching it fire in a solid blue and yellow beam at the sphere.  She noted the blip of lights on the consoles next to her, the screens flitting out of existence for a moment before turning back on.  Gaius gave a disgruntled noise before hitting the thrusters.

They pursued the sphere as it darted away, the G-Savior’s sword swinging wildly after it.  Gaius pressed the machina faster, swapping it into the Pyretic Booster.  Their massive sword sang off of the hull of one triangular node as it intervened, blasting a forcefield in front of it that exploded upon impact.  The G-Savior fell back, the cockpit glass covered in gray smoke for a few moments.  Gaius pulled back for a moment until he regained visibility and then chased after the sphere.  He locked onto it and Kaida loosed the ballistic missiles from the sword, dismayed to see the twin triangles weave in to block it with another shield. 

No good.  We’re going to need to target the triangles first and get rid of them.  But every time the sword hits them, they damage the G-Savior’s hull.

“Think we can blast through the forcefield with the Alpha Cannon?” Kaida asked Gaius.

“Not at close range,” Gaius shook his head.  “When it is struck, it reflects the attack back onto the G-Savior.  However, if we keep a wide enough distance…”

He pulled back on the machina’s controls, darting away from the twin triangles.  Kaida threw the power into the Alpha Cannon, the weapon humming to life as energy poured into the weapon’s core.  She saw one node fall into her crosshairs, an innocent lamb to the slaughter.  A smirk crossed her lips as she hit the button to fire, the beam roaring from the Alpha Cannon in a dazzling burst of light.  It met the node’s forcefield in a collision rife with smoke and fire.  Kaida held onto the button, driving the beam further into the shield like a nail through wood.  A deafening crack resonated across the empty ocean followed by the G-Savior giving a sudden shudder.

“Kaida—”  Gaius warned her as the lights flashed on every dashboard in front of both pilots.

“What’s going on in there?” Nero asked over the intercom.

The Raen picked up her hand, looking about frantically.  Each light kept flickering, the screens flashing red.  And then, without much further warning, the G-Savior’s engines clicked off.  The computer screens vanished.  All of the lights went dark.  And gravity did what it was wont to do—the G-Savior plummeted from its short hover over the sapphire waves.  It plunged into the water, a spray washing over the warmachina’s head.

“No…” Kaida said, aghast as she hit a button to try to restart the engines.  Nothing happened. 

Was that… too much…?

Emergency flotation devices had been deployed on the warmachina’s arms, keeping it above the water’s surface but barely.  Waves lapped over the cockpit window with each swell, rocking the G-Savior.  She was glad she did not get seasick and prayed Gaius was no different.

“Unfortunate.  But remain calm.  They will deploy airships to retrieve us,” Gaius said calmly, hands dropping from the controls.  “It would seem the Alpha Cannon pulled too much power from the engine.”

“Fuck,” Kaida breathed.

She rubbed her chin, watching the waves roll outside.  Having spent the majority of her childhood in a bubble under the sea did little to make her feel less nervous about being in the warmachina as it bobbed about the ocean.  It felt too closed off, like they were trapped in a box that could easily start sinking to the bottom at any moment. 

Gaius began trying to access the emergency functions of the Mark I, finding most of them locked behind a security password that he claimed not to know.  Kaida sighed, resting her elbow against an armrest and letting a fist prop her cheek up.  She watched as he worked, not sure what she could do that he could not in that moment.  The tide was serving to carry them slightly further out and that worried her.  But surely Cid and Nero had thought of that when they had installed the floatation devices? 

Five minutes passed of Gaius tinkering with the controls.  As he toiled, she caught a glimpse of his face.  The tiniest curl of his lip and a glint in his amber irises—the telltale signs of his amusement.  She had picked up on his body language when they had been working to liberate Werlyt from the VIIth legion.  He expressed himself in small ways, she had noticed.  Seldom laughter beyond a soft chuckle.  No grins, only smiles that seemed more in his eyes than on his mouth.  He was a curious man, Kaida thought.  A man of subtleties.

“And what is so amusing, Baelsar?” huffed the Raen.

“Naught of importance.”

“Well, we’ve got all the time in the world right now.”

He hesitated.

“I found a feature akin to the one you were inquiring about yesterday,” Gaius replied after a few moments, glancing at her from his peripherals.  “It would seem it is a new weapon, in beta testing.”

“The feature I was…?” Kaida asked, looking at him.  Her expression soured as she remembered.  “The aetheric orbs.”

“The very same.”

“I don’t think I’ll hate them as much as I did when I was facing them.”

“Full glad am I to hear that the communications channel will not be fraught with vicious swearing.”

His tone shifted, dipped in slight levity.  It was rare when he jested, particularly so openly.  But every time, it disarmed her.  She never knew what to expect from him.  And perhaps that was why being around him felt… Different.  Different than other people.  That convoluted feeling that she could not put words to and feared… but also cherished.

“You enjoy that too much, I think.  What was it you called my mouth yesterday?  P-pretty?” Kaida remarked, tapping a few buttons just to see if it would help spur the Mark I to awaken.  Nothing happened.

“I was merely commenting that I did not expect such foul language from a priestess of the Ruby Sea.”

“I was not a priestess.  I was…. I am… a miko.  A shrine maiden.”

Well.  The jury is out if I’m still considered one.  But I never formally quit…

“… Forgive me for not understanding the difference.”

“Priestesses lead rituals.  Shrine maidens help if they are needed.  My mother had us pledge ourselves to the temple at a young age—far younger than most.  But that is because being a shrine maiden is prestigious where I come from,” Kaida replied, her tone deadpan.  Her fingers drummed against a few more buttons.  She could have sworn she heard the engines flicker on but it was a false alarm.

“I see.”

“It was all for clout.  I see it now that I’ve grown up.  The social spheres of the upper class require you constantly hold a certain amount of prestige and my mother wanted to get us in on it early.  Maybe she thought to marry us off someday…” Kaida continued.  “We would have had to stop being shrine maidens, however.  You’re not allowed to even court when you’re pledged to the temple, much less marry.  There’s a certain amount of purity that’s expected of shrine maidens and… I… Sorry, I’m rambling.  The point is, I…”

Even though I never formally quit, it’s not as though I’ve been maintaining my duties as a miko.  I… haven’t even been back home to the Ruby Sea in over a decade now.  I don’t know if I can really call myself a miko anymore but…

“… I’m not a priestess,” Kaida concluded awkwardly.

She was very much aware of the lingering silence that followed. 

“My mistake,” Gaius said after a moment, voice neutral. 

“N-no, it’s… it’s all right.  I was from a rather secluded area.  We did not see many travelers but I suppose that was the point of hiding underwater,” Kaida replied with an uneasy chuckle.  “Do you see any sign of our rescuers?”

“No but a beacon was put out.  We may be here a while yet whilst they come for us,” Gaius said with a sigh, leaning back in his chair.  His head came close to her calf as he adjusted the way he sat.

A buzz from her linkpearl caught her attention and Kaida tapped it once to activate it.

“Cid?” She asked hopefully.

“No,” came a different voice—gruff and coarse.  Estinien’s, she realized suddenly. 

“O-oh… Estinien, is that you?” Kaida fumbled.  “Is everything all right?”

“If they were not, I would be speaking a bit more urgently, I would think,” came the dragoon’s sullen retort.  “Alas, my latest duty as the newest member of your organization has been bookkeeping.  You need not wonder who put me to the task.”

Tataru.

“I… see,” Kaida said, glad that he could not see she was trying to suppress a growing smirk at his chagrin.

“She has decided she simply must know the date of your return,” Estinien replied with a bitter sigh wafting over the linkshell connection.  “A fact that I thought she would be aware of at this point in time.”

“A week from now,” Kaida answered.

“A week?  What in the blazes is happening over there that you need a week’s time to resolve it?” Estinien grumbled.

“Cid and Nero think it may take longer than I thought it would.  Sorry…” Kaida said.  “Warmachina are rather time-consuming.”

“Tch.  Unfortunate.  Tataru had you signed up for an Alliance meeting with the beast tribe leaders.  I assume you will be unable to attend?” Estinien asked.         

“I’m sorry, but it does seem that will be the case,” Kaida replied.  “I’m sure one of the others is available.  Listelle was at the Rising Stones the last time I was there so maybe you should ask her.”

“Of course you find yourself busy…” Estinien’s words dissolved into a series of grumbles but he soon cleared his throat.  “I had no idea I was signing up for being a secretary when I decided to lend my spear… very well, I will track her down.”

“We appreciate you, Ser Estinien,” Kaida said sweetly.

“Don’t take that tone with me, girl.  And tell the Wolf to mind himself.  The last we saw each other, he had a penchant for dragging me into his trouble,” Estinien grumbled.

“Yes, yes, I’ll let him know.  Thank you.”

The call ended and she caught Gaius’s stare.  A sigh fluttered from her lips as she slumped sideways in her pilot’s chair, lifting her legs onto the armrests.  She was quite aware that this was not how one should be sitting in this sort of chair surrounded by fancy equipment, but her knees were starting to ache.  She stretched, careful not to hit any buttons in the process—not that they would do anything in this state.  But she was still concerned she may accidentally launch missiles back towards shore or something else equally unfortunate. 

“Any news on the fight against the Telophoroi?” Gaius asked after a few moments of quiet. 

“Only that the Alliance leaders are meeting soon with the beast tribes to organize a strategy against the enemy.  And about time, too,” Kaida replied.

His lip curled again, tone brusque.  “I see some things have failed to change over the years.”

She mulled over that statement, thinking back to Praetorium and his speech about strength and weakness.  He had been right about some things but she would never admit that aloud.  The Alliance leaders had their hands tied after the Calamity but that did not account for all of their shortcomings.  Kaida understood they had done their best given the circumstances handed to them.  But sometimes, one’s best was simply not enough.  And under their watch, the primal threat had continued.  It continued even still, though the imminent meeting with the beast tribes was promising.  It just baffled her that it had taken this long to get the tribes to see the merit in joining forces.  Back home at the Ruby Sea, her village had often done trade with beast tribes—the Kojin in particular.  She tried to imagine how some of these Eorzeans might see the reptilian tribe and winced at the thought.  How easy was it to diminish others, when one referred to them as “beasts” especially?

And then Kaida thought back to Ishgard.  When she had arrived, Haurchefant had insisted she cover her horns with a hood as to not frighten the citizens.  Kaida had agreed enthusiastically only because a hood meant more warmth.  Stuffing her tail down her pants had been met with less enthusiasm, however.  But those memories only made her think of the beast tribes.  Ishgard spent generations thinking so poorly of dragons and the Au Ra by default of their horns and scales.  What separated her from a beast, in their eyes? 

Haurchefant… what would have happened in those days if you had not been there to help guide me?

A pause came before the next melancholy thought came.

And what could have been if you had not tried to save me that day…

“You’ll tear the seat if you do not take care,” Gaius said to her and the Raen became aware that her nails were nipping harshly into the leather of the chair she was sitting in. 

“Oh,” she tucked her hands into her lap, looking up at the glass cockpit and at the sky beyond it.  His gaze was fixed on her and she caught sight of it, lips pursed for a moment before confessing.  “My mind went on a tangent.”

He grunted, adjusting his sitting position. 

“I… don’t suppose you have anything you want to talk about?” Kaida asked him with a sideways look.  “I haven’t heard you this quiet in a while.”

“It is not as though I prepared conversation topics on the off-chance we were to be stranded in the ocean,” Gaius pointed out.

“I would be a little worried if you did,” Kaida remarked and that small smirk returned on his mouth.  “They’re certainly taking their time.  I wonder if they crashed the ship that was supposed to save us.”

“I have my doubts on that.  Provided Cid is piloting it, that is,” Gaius replied.

“But not if Nero is?”

Gaius did not reply and Kaida laughed.

“Is he a worse pilot than me?” she asked.

“You excel at many things, Warrior of Light,” Gaius replied politely, clearly evading the question.  “Steering a warmachina may not be one of them.”

“And yet you want me in the cockpit with you.”

He did not reply once more, shifting in his chair.  She caught sight of his face for a moment, a more serious expression befalling it.  Serious… and contemplative, a glassy sheen about his amber irises and his lips pursed in thought.

“I’m… a bit surprised, you know,” Kaida said.  “That you asked me to come to Terncliff.”

“Why?”

Don’t make me say it.  We both know that I killed your kids.  We both know we wanted each other dead just a few years ago. 

“It’s just…” Kaida faltered.  How to word this delicately?  “Our history together has not been…”

“Do you blame the gun or the finger that pulls the trigger?”

She blinked, lifting her head slightly. 

“That our paths were set on a collision course was not your doing nor mine.  I know where the blame lies.”

Solus zos Galvus.  Emet-Selch… Hades.

A pause.

“I was… wondering if you knew.  About Solus,” Kaida said quietly.

“I heard all that was said at the parley with Emperor Varis,” Gaius answered evenly.  “The Leveilleur boy and I found ample evidence to support it.  There’s little question if what the Emperor said was true…”

His voice trailed slightly.

“You put an end to him, I hear.”

“I… did.”

Another person you know that ended at the tip of my blade.  It happens so often that I wonder if I was meant to torment you.

“Good,” was all he said.

Help arrived shortly after in the form of two airships.  They latched onto the G-Savior’s shoulders, dragging it from the waves and into the air.  Kaida tapped the mic button to see if it would magically come to life.  Unsurprisingly, it did not and the two were carried back to Terncliff with a solemn silence between them.  Kaida lounged back in her chair and Gaius did not so much as glance in her direction.  The clouds outside had begun to cluster, their pale gray turning into a threatening tone.  It would rain soon and Kaida was glad they had been found before the storm kicked in.

When the G-Savior was brought back to the hanger, she caught a glimpse of Nero and Cid standing outside.  Both looked quite grim.  Cid’s fingers dug into his chin, threading past the snowy hairs of his beard as he massaged his jaw.  Nero’s hand was on his forehead, pacing somewhat with a pained look on his face. 

“What took you so long?” Kaida demanded as she hopped onto the catwalk.

“Engine trouble with one of the airships.  It’s just not our day, I guess,” Cid frowned.  “What went wrong?”

“The Alpha Cannon caused an overload, disrupting the engine,” Gaius replied firmly.

“Well, I suppose that means we have our work cut out for us,” Cid sighed then called to one of his engineers.  “Avilina, can you get another pot of coffee going…”

“No,” Kaida cut him off with the shake of her head.  “You both are exhausted—look at you.  Just let someone else deal with it for now and we can get back to it tomorrow.”

“But—” Cid began and yet, at her glare, he quickly caved.  “If you insist.”

“To be frank,” Nero said, wandering over to the Mark I and looking up at it.  “We may need more than a day’s work to get it ready.  Properly ready, mind you.  We did… rush a few things last night in hopes it would be enough.”

Gaius’s mouth dipped into a frown.  “If it must take a day’s work to do so correctly, then that is simply how it must be.  It will benefit no one to rush the process.”

“Right… right,” Nero said, seeming a little dejected.

“Then I suppose you’re both free for the rest of the day,” Cid stated with a weak smile.  “Get some rest if you need it.  We will let you know in advanced when we believe the G-Savior is able to retry the second trial.”

Kaida went back to the locker room to change back into her regular clothes.  As she stepped into the changing room, she heard footsteps follow her in—the rhythmic pattern that belonged to her copilot.  She was not sure when she had learned it. 

“That castrum you wanted to look into…” began the Raen.  “I guess we’ll have lots of time tomorrow.  When would you like to meet?”

“Five bells into the new day?” Gaius asked.

“That’s… early,” Kaida commented and she heard the faintest hint of a snort.

“Then perhaps you would like to set the time.”

“T-ten bells…?”

He said nothing but she could sense his disapproval.

“… Seven?”

“Seven will suffice.  I will inform Valdeaulin and Severa.”

“Sounds good to me,” Kaida replied, finishing getting changed back into her simple shirt and pants.  She stepped out, catching sight of him as he finished pulling his own shirt on.  A glimpse of his stomach reminded her of earlier and she quickly drowned that memory. “Tomorrow, then.”

“Yes.  Tomorrow,” Gaius said as she walked towards the door, feeling his eyes linger on her until she faded from his view.

Chapter Text

Seven bells in the morning.  When the chimes rang across the seaside town of Terncliff, Gaius was already waiting, already ready.  He was donned in his traveling gear, the coat around his shoulders keeping out the early morning chill that swept off the ocean.  Severa and Valdeaulin were similarly garbed, both looking less than fresh for the trip but still ready.  He was grateful for the both of them for deciding to accompany him; though they had not quite established homes for themselves in Terncliff, they had adopted a new normal during their time there.  Valdeaulin helped often with the orphans and Severa had taken to training some of the newer recruits.  Coupled with Cid insisting Gaius help at their newly established Ironworks facility, it meant they had spent little time together as of late.  But such was the way of things.  They had all vowed to stay in Terncliff until the region was stabilized.

Gaius was grateful they had agreed to accompany him to the abandoned Imperial castrum.  The land of Werlyt was still scarred by the Weapon Project and his travelling companions had been eager to help stomp out any lingering fires from those dark days that yet remained.  But for Gaius, this was bordering on a personal affair.  He had said nothing to the others but the reports of the missing Imperial contingent troubled him far more than his allies realized. 

‘They were led out by a blond tribunus’, the report had said.  No indicator if this had been Valens’s right hand or just another of his inner circle.  ‘Blond with a lance.’  It was vague but clear enough to warrant raising Gaius’s suspicions.  He might have said something to the others had those suspicions not been entangled so tightly with a set of nerves that made even the Black Wolf hesitate.  A gut instinct told him he knew who that tribunus was and yet he hoped fervently for the opposite.  The implications were too painful.

Gulls cried out.  The salted air wafted over him.  Ahead was the gate feeding from Terncliff into the highlands of Werlyt.  Down the road lay Castrum Collinum—far enough that it would be a decent walk and yet short enough to oversee operations in this region.  Gaius had known it well, once.  Returning to its charred remains felt like a bitter homecoming. 

“She’s late,” Valdeaulin remarked, arms crossed and back against the stony wall of a shop. 

“She will be here,” he reassured him and the Duskwight only smirked in that sour way of his, eyes returning to the ground where his feet lay.  Severa stood idly nearby, quiet and still waking up, the breeze ruffling her azure bangs as she looked to the skies in thought.

Gaius mulled over trying to see if Kaida could be reached via linkpearl but thought against it, giving her the benefit of the doubt.  Perhaps something had happened on the battlefront that required her attention momentarily.  He knew her enough to know that she would have sent word if she had to cancel at the last minute.  That was, perhaps, the first flaw he had noted in her.  Not only could she not lie to save her life but she had a horrible case of anxiety when it came to disappointing others.  It was admirable how much she cared even about the littlest things but it simultaneously exhausted him to think about how much thought she seemed to put into everything.  Perhaps it was but another power given to her by the Echo—boundless mental energy.

Arms crossed, the ex-legatus let his thoughts wander for a moment from their missing Warrior of Light to Castrum Collinum once more.  He had spent the last two days steeling himself for the worst, knowing it was likely to come.  Gaius did not fancy himself a pessimist; he was a realistic through and through but since Praetorium, his perspective of reality had altered drastically.  The golden boy of the Empire was no longer that; he was a tired, grizzled old man that had watched most of his children die before him.  And that left a lasting bitterness on his tongue and a latent fear in his chest that was sharp as daggers.  He suspected there would be a grim discovery at Castrum Collinum because life seemed only to want to make a mockery of him.  What better way to punish a man for his misdeeds than to force him to spend the rest of his life staring them in the eye?

Footsteps caused his amber eyes to lift.  Kaida looked tired, he noted.  There were bags under her eyes and her teal fringe seemed messier than normal.  But when she saw him, there was a sunniness about her that bloomed to life before his very eyes.  The smile that fell upon her lips was pure and genuine… and perhaps even an ilm apologetic.

The armor she wore was polished and pristine—kept and maintained expertly.  His eyes traced over it, marveling at the way it encased her small body.  She looked good in it—he permitted himself that thought, cutting off that tangent before it could progress any further than that.  Gaius Baelsar knew better than to let himself get carried away.

“Well, it looks like we have all made it,” Severa remarked and Valdeaulin straightened his posture.  “Good morning!”

“Good morning!” the Raen greeted them.  “I’m a minute late; sorry about that… But I’m ready to go.”

And that she was, clad in her knightly attire with her claymore strapped to her back.  Gaius’s eyes skirted over its hilt, the cyan glow about it certainly not subtle.  The bright, cheery glint in her eyes did not fit the battle-hardened silver armor she wore but that was the thing about Kaida Asagiri—she made sense in some ways and in many ways, she did not.  And perhaps that was why he found his gaze wondering to her often.  She surprised him.  She had surprised him since the moment they had first met.  And Gaius Baelsar was not surprised often.

“I assume you were held up by reports from the Scions,” Gaius said to her.

“Er… y-yes, something like that.”

A lie.  The corner of his mouth twitched with a knowing smirk and Gaius Baelsar turned away, beginning towards the white gates leading from Terncliff.  The other three followed and the gatekeeper saw that they were free to leave, although not without glaring holes through him.  Gaius walked by passively.  The gatekeep could feel whatever he wished to; the Black Wolf’s mind was already turned to their destination with anticipation and trepidation held close to his chest.  His face betrayed not a sliver of it, however.  Feigning neutrality had become second nature to him long ago, perfected after they had liberated Werlyt. 

The road was long, stretched before them between rocky highlands and golden fields.  Sparse trees dotted the fields, gathered into clusters that blotted the horizon.  Mountains rose in the distance, weathered by wind and time both.  The stretch of road harkened his thoughts back to when they had found the downed Diamond Weapon.  And that memory bore only a quiet pain for him, thinking of the moments he would never talk about-- not even to Allie.  What was left of the Diamond Weapon had been confiscated by the Garlond Ironworks and Valen’s corpse was hopefully picked clean by vultures.  Gaius would leave it all at that.  The others did not need to know anything further.

“You didn’t ask Cid if we could borrow a ship to take us there?” Kaida asked him when Terncliff had mostly faded from view.

“You take offense to the road?” Gaius inquired, tone light.

“I started as an adventurer; you know I don’t care about walking,” Kaida said.

“And yet you protest,” Gaius observed and Kaida huffed out a sigh.  “Cid has his hands full with other projects.  They do not have many resources here.  Vehicles included.  I would rather him focus on ensuring the Mark I is readied for the morrow.”

“I could have paid for chocobos,” Kaida said.  “Or brought my own.”

“I should think your bird, as strong as it may be, is not quite enough to seat four people.”

“He’s not but…”

“And I should like to return to Terncliff without smelling like horsebird.”

He heard her scoff and chanced a glance over his shoulder.

“Enji is a good bird.  And he doesn’t smell.  I bathe him regularly,” Kaida protested.  “I didn’t know you were so opposed to chocobos, Baelsar.”

“I prefer mounts that will not disobey me,” Gaius grumbled.

“We actually did rent chocobos once,” Severa said, looking to Kaida with a grin on her face.  “I had to teach him how to ride one.”

“And how did that go?” Kaida asked and the hyuran woman smirked.

The Black Wolf cleared his throat uncertainly, indignantly lifting his chin and setting his amber glare towards the horizon.  “Some things are merely not meant to be.”

“He was bucked off,” Valdeaulin clarified and Gaius’s eyes flitted in his direction, narrowed slightly.  Kaida’s subsequent laughter was mirthful and pleasant—the only boon about the entire conversation.  With a grumble, Gaius carried onward.

The honey-yellow fields carried on as far as the eye could see and their chatter soon died off into a pleasant quiet.  When it had been just the three of them hunting shadows across the land, they had gotten used to the silence.  It was an amiable thing, even when Valdeaulin had spent the better part of his time glaring bullet holes through the back of Gaius’s head and the Black Wolf had to pretend as though he did not notice for the sake of not escalating things.  There was a serenity in the quiet of the wilderness, one that soothed his tired old soul.  He thought about how it would be nice someday, to retire in a place such as this.  The cold was not as harsh as Garlemald’s and the way the sun ran its rays over the grass gave off an ethereal glow.  But if he were to retire, he figured it would be in a grave.  Such would be fitting for a man of his nature.

Kaida’s presence made the peaceful quiet different, but in a way that Gaius could not quite put to words.  There was a power about a Warrior of Light that made his eye draw to her often.  He told himself to not be distracted but Gaius Baelsar was a man prone to hubris, in his own way, and her being there made him think less of what lurked ahead.  Less of the dread that rested in his chest.  He wondered if that was what it meant to be a Warrior of Light—to bring hope even to the hopeless by simply being there.  Gaius felt like a child for thinking such a way, but he had to admit his interest in her and her ilk had only grown since he had first crossed paths with them.  And Kaida in particular had caught his eye when he had bidden the Ultima Weapon to devour the beaten Garuda whole.  The fire in her eyes as the wind whipped around her was seared into his memory.  And Gaius had, since that day, thought of her often.

And how could he not when she radiated with power and confidence?  She made heads turn wherever she went.  And he felt himself an idiot often when she was around.  Clear indicators of something he knew he should not be feeling.  Should not even be considering.  And yet keeping such emotions barred was… difficult.  More so when she was near. 

His yellow eyes moved to her again, watching the way she was handling the straps of one of her gauntlets.  She idly was fastening it, focusing on the task more than where she was going.  There was that permanent smile on her face, soft and serene.  He did not let himself look at it for long, not daring himself to be the moth that was burned by the flame.  His gaze set forward, to the distance once more. 

When Castrum Collinum came into sight, it was several hours later.  The Imperial bastion stood as a blight upon the gold of Werlyt’s fields.  Its walls had been reduced to rubble, leaving little question as to how to enter the abandoned castrum.  A few downed magitek vehicles lay before where the gates ought to have been, half-sunken into the soil.  Vanguards, walkers, colossi, and death claws littered the ground and the Black Wolf walked past them.  Their magitek corpses could be harvested for something, he was sure, but decided to leave that to Cid when he was available. 

“The Diamond Weapon certainly did not bother pulling its punches, so to speak,” Kaida said, looking at where one of the vanguards had been bisected.  “I’m amazed any of the castrum still stands.”

“It was not indiscriminant in its attack,” Gaius replied.  “It knew where to strike and then it fled.”

“The way you talk about the Weapon sounds like Allie was not in control of it,” Kaida began.

“She was not.”

“And yet it rampaged… in a controlled way?” Kaida asked and Gaius did not elaborate on that.

He felt the Raen’s stare press into the back of his head but he did not care to elaborate further on the subject.  That delved too close to the truth behind the Diamond Weapon, too close to a knot of feelings that he had not yet unraveled.  His ears still recalled the sound of the bullet splitting the Weapon’s core, ending the last remnants of his son.

“There may be security systems still activated inside,” Severa cautioned them as they stepped through what should have been the gate.  “Be careful.  Castrums like this are full of ways to deter intruders.”

“To protect the experiments being done with the Weapons, I’d wager,” Kaida said.  “Right.  What exactly are we looking for, Gaius?”

He hesitated and that gave away enough. 

“A list of personnel and any security cameras that may have caught footage of those who escaped the carnage,” came his eventual reply.  “Anything of Valens van Varro’s research is to be destroyed.”

“Did the Werlytians not already do that?” Kaida asked.

“Their efforts were focused on Werlyt, though they did send a small team to clear out the castrum’s science wing.  Anything they may have missed must be destroyed.”

“All right.”

The yard before the fortress’s front doors was naught more than a trash heap, filled with similar downed magitek as just beyond the gates.  Gaius stepped between them, feeling a bit as though he were walking through a cemetery.  The soft crunch of his shoes against the yellow grass was the only thing audible.  A stillness had befallen here, solemn as graves.  And though he was not partial to spiritualism, he felt a calm sense wash over him.  As if the eyes of his wards were upon him from beyond, watching and encouraging him. 

Though the path to the door was crushed into jagged scrap metal, the door itself into the castrum’s heart was thankfully undamaged.  A panel next to it demanded a password to enter.  A few button clicks served to bypass the security system and the door slid open.  Gaius glanced inside the dark halls, lit by emergency lights on the floor and by the sun between gaps carved in the ceiling and walls.

“We could have just stepped through one of the holes the Weapon made.  Unless you were just trying to show off?” Valdeaulin pointed out to him and the Garlean’s lip curled slightly in amusement.

“The front door is usually the politest method of entry.”

“And since when have you cared about that?” shot the Duskwight over his shoulder as he walked and Gaius heard Kaida chuckle.

“It’s all right.  We’d have to look for a better opening than the ones on this side anyways,” the Raen remarked as she strolled in after Valdeaulin.

Gaius and Severa entered the building after them.  Valdeaulin paused to let Gaius into the front of their band, a curious gleam in his light-hued eyes.  Despite the emergency lights being on, they did little to reveal much of the entry into the castrum.  They stared up at him like methodically placed, angry red eyes.  He walked between them, starting down a corridor and turning.  The next hall was sunlit from a tear in the ceiling and he saw that one of the security cameras had met an unfortunate fate.  It was partially crushed under metal and stone, well beyond saving.  But that mattered little, he thought.  The cameras would have filed their footage into a central room—their first destination.  He continued on past the ruined hall and into the first fork in the road.

“It would appear no one returned,” Valdeaulin said.  “But that leaves the rest of the castrum to look at.  Right before the Diamond Weapon unleashed its wrath upon the castrum, I saw a group depart via airship.  They were led by someone in red armor.”

A tribunus.

“Let us divide to cover more ground,” Gaius said to them.  “Valdeaulin, you have your linkpearl?”

“Yes,” came his reply.

“Take Severa and cover the west of the castrum.  Kaida and I will cover the east.  Send word if aught is found.”

The Duskwight’s pupils flitted to the Raen for a moment but he nodded in agreement.  They went their separate ways, Gaius leading Kaida to the eastern wing of the facility.  It was here where the cameras would be, he presumed.  In the low light, it was hard to read the signs near each door.  He found himself leaning in towards the wall, squinting in the shadows.

“If I’d known it would be so dark in here, I’d have brought a torch but maybe this will work,” Kaida remarked.  Gaius heard the slip of her blade from its holster and he glanced back at her from the corner of his eye.  Her claymore glowed bright as a star, its cold light washing over the hall. 

“My thanks.”

They carried on down the hall.  She rested the flat of the blade on her shoulder, the cyan glow lighting her face up.  As he drew near one of the signs, she came close to light up the wall.  This process was carried on until the camera room came into sight.  Gaius tested the door, finding it locked.  Another security bypass code was used and the lock gave a click.

“They really should change the codes on those,” Kaida said.

“Tis the least of Garlemald’s concerns at the moment,” Gaius replied with a wry smirk.  “Had they suspected my betrayal earlier, they may have been more pressed to do so.  Dead men seldom infiltrate security systems.”

They stepped inside and Gaius went at once to the series of computers at the back wall.  Unfortunately, a sizeable portion of the wall to their right had been cleaved open.  A click of the buttons on the computer and Gaius soon realized the power supply had been cut to them.  His mouth creased into a frown.

“Just as I feared,” mused the Garlean.

“No power?”

“And the secondary generator seems to have not activated.”

“Secondary generator?”

“It is used in case of emergencies, in the event the castrum should fall under attack and lose power.  The generator would activate, ensuring that all internal functions remained online.”

“The emergency lights are on.”

“The secondary generator that connects to the computer system is underground.  A different entity than the one keeping the lights on.”

“I see… So we should go turn it on?”

“It would seem that is required, yes.”

And to reach it, Gaius knew they would need an elevator.  But with the generator being down, there would be no power there either.  Stairs were in order and they were found at the corner of the hall.  The duo proceeded down them in silence, the light of the sun above filtering down a single, lonely beam.  It was soon lost when they reached the basement floor, which was seemingly untouched by the Weapon’s rampage.

Kaida stuck close to him, claymore still brandished and its light still guiding them.  The basement’s emergency lights flickered as they passed by.  Gaius’s eyes scanned the walls, noting the deactivated cameras and security systems.  This level, much like all of the other castrums, was authorized personnel only.  Even the average legionnaire would not have been allowed to see the lower floor, especially a conscript who may have thought it amusing to pull the plug on the castrum’s power.  It was for this reason that the floor was well-guarded by a magitek security system—one that he knew would come to life as soon as they brought power back to the ebony-clad fortress.  As long as the primary power systems of the castrum were down, the security systems would be operational. 

The Imperials did not bother to keep the secondary generator hidden; it was quite obviously placed in a central chamber, large and embedded partially in the wall.  Gaius approached it, activating the generator with a single button.  When it whirred to life, he turned to look at Kaida, who was already wandering back towards the hall.  He mused over how she seemed eager to get back to the camera room.  And then his eyes flashed wide with remembrance at the security system in the hall.  He ran after her, reaching out with a hand, her name tearing from his mouth in fear.

“Kaida--”       

She turned but she had already taken a step out of the room, confusion in her eyes.  The panel she stepped on flashed yellow in warning and though Gaius’s hand was quick enough to snag her wrist, he was not quick enough to pull them both to safety.  Instead, the lasers activated just behind him, the heat searing his coat.  He lurched forward into her out of instinct, the two of them colliding.  Kaida dropped Deathbringer onto the ground, her hands brought up to her chest and her eyes staring wide at him.  Gaius tore his gaze from her to the lasers that surrounded them, a bitter sigh escaping from him.

“You could have warned me!” sputtered the Warrior of Light.

“I thought you would let me lead on as opposed to wandering off,” Gaius shot back gruffly. 

“I did not think there was a reason to.  We were just down this hall,” Kaida remarked, picking up her sword.  “Well, you’re the expert here, Baelsar.  How are we getting out of this one?”

A scowl still on his face, he tapped the linkpearl in his ear, trying to get Valdeaulin to respond.  No reply.  Gaius massaged the bridge of his nose.  That was either a horrible sign that they had met trouble or the Duskwight was preoccupied with something.  The thick bastion walls would not be enough to stifle a linkpearl’s signal—that much he knew.  His hand dropped to his side, miserably glancing at the lasers.

“Twice in two days,” Kaida remarked.  He side-eyed her and she continued, “… That we’ve been trapped together, I mean.”

“A mockery from your Twelve, I should think,” Gaius remarked bitterly.  “We can afford to wait until Valdeaulin responds.”

Provided he has not befallen the same fate… or a worse one.

“I may be able to get through the lasers,” Kaida began.

“Even one of your stature and slim build could not squeeze between the lasers,” Gaius shook his head.

“No.  I mean.  I may be able to walk through them,” she said, turning to face him.  “There’s a way to turn off the security system, isn’t there?”

“Madness,” Gaius grunted.  “We can wait.”

“I spent a fair amount of yesterday doing that,” Kaida said.  “And besides, no reply from Valdeaulin.  Don’t you think that’s odd?”

Gaius paused, studying her face with narrowed eyes.  “What is your plan exactly?”

“I… put a shield around myself and walk through?” Kaida asked and catching his doubting look, she continued, “It’s not exactly the best plan but it is a plan.”

“I cannot condone this,” Gaius said flatly.  “If something were to happen to you…”

They need you on the battlefront.  And if I were to carry your remains back to Terncliff, I may as well tell the executioner to ready his axe for my neck…

“I will be fine,” Kaida replied firmly.  “I’ve fought worse than a few lasers.  Besides, I’ve… learned a few tricks lately that might help.”

She did not wait for him to protest further.  Gaius watched as she sheathed her claymore, eyes closed.  A few sharp breaths were inhaled, hands reaching out towards the lasers.  They paused a few ilms shy of the heated rays.  He thought to stop her.  But trying to stop Kaida Asagiri was like trying to tell the wind to stop blowing, thunder to stop clapping, or the sea to stop raging.  Her fingers danced with violet, black, and red magic—a malicious-looking barrier forming around her body, flecked with bits of light that flickered like dying starlight.  The metal of her armor took up a sheen, aether brimming in it.  Her eyes snapped to the bars and Kaida threw herself into them, a flash of light and the scent of smoke puffing from her collision.  Gaius drew back as sparks flew, his amber eyes shooting up to see Kaida pass through the bars with a pained groan and a stagger.

“Shit,” she hissed, a palm slamming into the wall to steady her. 

“Are you all right?” he asked gravely.

“Y-yeah…” she said weakly.  His brows furrowed in concern, watching the way she swayed.  “How do I… how do I get you out of there?”

“There is a control panel at the end of the hall.  Open it and hit the red button,” Gaius said.  “It will temporarily disable the system.”

He watched Kaida limp down the hall, his concern for her matched by his awe that she had withstood such a blast.  She found the panel and the barrier of lasers soon fell.  As Gaius was freed, Kaida sank slowly to the ground, panting and grabbing a potion from her belt.  The cork came off with a pop and she chugged the liquid down with a mighty, fairly unladylike swig.  A few droplets clung to her chin as she lowered the bottle, green eyes turning to Gaius.  His disapproval was clearly etched onto his chiseled features.

“… You’re wounded.”

“It was worth it.”

“Hardly, if that’s the state you’re to be in for the rest of the trip.  Where does it hurt?”

“The potion will help.  It’s fine, Gaius.”

There was a casual sense to her tone, a warmness.  He saw her press a hand to her side, healing the unseen injury beneath her armor. 

“Besides…” she added remorsefully.  “It was my fault we were stuck to begin with.  I should’ve been paying more attention.  It won’t happen again.”

“I am not here to chide you—”

“And yet you are.  I can see it in your eyes, Baelsar.”

He scowled at her.  “Do you require aid or shall we carry on?”

“I’m all right,” she said, rising stiffly from the ground.  “The camera room next or should we go find Valdeaulin and Severa?”

“We will give them a few minutes to respond,” Gaius said.  “The camera room first.”

The two began back towards the stairwell, Gaius slowing his pace slightly so she could keep up.  As they ascended the steps, he tried to contact Valdeaulin once more.  No response.  He frowned and tossed a gander at Kaida.  Her stride had returned by the time they reached the first floor but he knew it was more than the potion—he caught a glimpse of her mending herself, the glow of her magicks like sunlight in the dark of the castrum.

They carried on back into the camera room, the computers awakening as Gaius tapped a key upon the keyboard.   Sitting in front of the main computer, he bypassed the security prompt requiring a password, pulling up the date of Diamond Weapon’s attack.  Kaida settled into a chair next to him.  He activated the other monitors, bringing up various angles that had been captured on that day before all hell had broken loose.

Both he and the Raen scooted their chairs back, watching the footage carefully.  Most of the recording appeared to be day-to-day footage.  Soldiers patrolled the halls.  Maintenance staff rushed about their assignments.  Prisoners awaited their grim fates within cells made with barely enough room to move in.  Gaius turned his attention to the airship landing platform, speeding up the time lapse.

“There,” he said, pausing the footage when a magitek vessel had begun boarding.  It appeared to be a group of purebloods primarily, a few conscripted soldiers joining them as well.  The leading figure was clad in light crimson armor, his horned helm reminiscent of a ram.  Gaius stared at that helm for some time, trying to identify it. 

“The squadron Valdeaulin saw,” Kaida nodded.  “It looks like they’re been led by someone in upper rank Garlean armor.  Do you know them?”

The Wolf’s stomach twisted.  He did not know how to answer that.  Was the armor familiar to him?  No.  But what lurked beyond that helm, he could not say.

“No,” Gaius said.  “I do not.”

“Move forward on the timeline.  Let’s see if this ship ever landed back here or if anyone came back after the Werlytians were here.”

He did as she suggested, skipping forward and looking at what screens were still available after the Diamond Weapon’s attack.  The landing pad remained empty, mostly totaled by the assault.  But soon enough, he saw movement at the outer gates.  The date was just a week ago.

“They came back,” Kaida said.

It was impossible to zoom in on the footage without it becoming distorted and blurry.  Gaius left the zoom at its natural state, staring at the sight of a handful of Imperial soldiers returning to the ruined base.  They skittered about the rubble like beetles, a few purebloods still dressed in the black and red of the Imperial standard.  And then he saw the red-armored man once more, only this time without a helm.  He hit pause, trying to zoom in then.  The angle was not great but he could make out certain details.  Their hair was blond or perhaps a light shade of brown, running down their neck akin to a lion’s mane.  They were tall, a Garlean pureblood themselves.  Strapped to their back was a magitek spear.  Gaius was certain he knew that spear but its model was common among the Garlean elite.  He tried to assuage his own fears but they came out in the rap-tap-tap of his fingertips upon the computer console. 

Once the soldiers fell out of view, he continued forward with the footage, fast forwarding until eventually the cameras caught up with the present.  And that was when Gaius Baelsar realized a very important factor – the soldiers had never left Castrum Collinum.  And if they had never left, then they were here somewhere.  And Valdeaulin was still lethally silent in their linkshell.

Gaius rose without warning and began for the door.  His eyes scanned the halls for more signs of their security system.  Heirsbane came out of its holster and he loaded bullets into it, listening to Kaida chase after him.  No questions were asked—he wagered she had come to the same conclusion as he had.  The two of them stole their way down the corridor, Gaius firing at the occasional sensor to disable the traps.  The gunshots rang loud down the hall but he cared little for subtlety. 

It did not take long to make it back to the crossroads where they had last seen Valdeaulin and Severa.  By then, their pace was at a dash, the red lights lining the floors blazing by them.  As they ran, Gaius’s mind struggled to clear itself, playing the possibilities of what they might uncover.  His heart raced as they ran the halls, winding through the darkness until a limp hand came into sight, peering around a curve in the hall.  Heirsbane was readied as Gaius reached the fallen form of Valdeaulin.  He knelt down, feeling for a pulse and thankfully finding one.  He was unconscious, not dead, and the Black Wolf’s yellow eyes flitted down the hall to an open door leading to the next room, where the magitek ships would have been kept.  

At the center of the hanger was a Garlean ship being loaded with supplies.  A few Imperials in battered armor were hastily moving boxes on board but at the sight of Gaius, they pulled their weapons out.  Heirsbane was lifted, index finger already on the trigger.  The sound of Kaida’s footsteps thundered behind him.

“Hold,” commanded a voice, masculine and not unfamiliar.

Descending the ramp was a man in crimson armor.  His blond mane was disheveled, pale scruff shadowing his jawline.  There were shadows under his blue eyes, his skin a sickly yellow-white.  But there was a strength in the grip of his hand around his magitek lance—strength born from anger that transcended words.  It was like staring a phantom, Gaius thought to himself, a deep ache in his chest.  He knew that face, past the exhaustion and the hatred.  He would have known that face anywhere.

I did not want to believe it.

A low growl stirred in the back of his throat.  His brows slanted in growing rage.  “So, it is you.”

“Do you know him?” Kaida’s voice came from behind.  She already had her claymore readied.

Perhaps once, I did.  But that was another lifetime ago. 

“The Black Wolf and his newest pet,” came the tired reply from the Garlean tribunus as he stepped onto the hanger floor.  Both hands on his lance’s handle, a sneer on his upper lip.  “An unwelcome surprise to be sure.  Come to piss on the downtrodden, have you?  Or maybe you’re here to finish what the Diamond Weapon began.”

“Cassius Flavus,” Gaius growled back.

“Cassius tol Flavus,” came the tribunus’s reply.  “If you please, Black Wolf.”

“Tol…” Gaius spat.  “When the report came in, I knew.  And yet I did not want to believe it.”

If I find that you had anything to do with the Weapon Project… Anything to do with what happened to my children…

“And I had hoped to never see you again, my lord, but we all should know by now that we seldom get what we want,” Cassius spat back venomously. 

A gander was given about the hanger, the Black Wolf’s eyes zeroing in on the shipments being loaded into the airship.  “You knew I would return to Castrum Collinum.”

“I suspected as much.  And unlike some, I’m not wont to throw away my loyalties after being disgraced,” Cassius replied.

“Only throw away your morals,” Gaius said, amber eyes flashing.  “You were Valens van Varro’s second.  You knew all that transpired with the Weapon Project.”

“Yes,” Cassius answered firmly, a snarl on his features and the start of madness in his pale blue eyes.

The confession was enough to make Gaius pull the trigger but he stayed his hand.  This was a truth he knew he needed to hear, needed to face.  His heart ached with the poignant sting of betrayal but he gnashed his teeth.  He told himself to bear this pain as he had bore the pain of losing his wards.  Of losing Rhitahtyn and Livia.

“Oh don’t look so sad.  It’s not as though you cared for what you left behind when you decided to betray the Empire.  If you had, maybe you would have given us the courtesy of a warning before deciding to murder the fucking Emperor and running off into the night,” Cassius sneered.  “But you clearly never spared a single thought for us.  Not for Marilla.  Not for Valentina.  Not dear little Alfonse, Rex, Milisandia, and Ricon.  Not for me.”

“Lies,” Gaius snapped back.  “Keep their names out of your mouth, cur.  You do not deserve to have known them.”

Cassius bristled.  “Oh please.  Spare me your crocodile tears and do not dare don the mantle of a mourning father when you left them to die and sullied the Baelsar name so badly that you left us all in disgrace.”

“And yet you don a tribunus’s armor,” Gaius growled.  “Strange how the path of disgrace led you to promotion, Cassius.”

“I did what I had to in order to survive,” Cassius said coldly.  “And I do not regret an ilm of it.”

That look in his eye.  Past the anger, he’s all but shaking in his armor.

“What have you done with Severa?” Gaius demanded.

“I needed a bargaining chip,” Cassius said, gesturing to one of the Imperial soldiers in the magitek ship.  The soldier dragged a limp Severa out from within, holding a knife to her nape.  “And the traitor-bitch offered herself up nicely.”

“Don’t hurt her!” Kaida yelled. 

“That will depend on you,” Cassius replied.  “Let us leave here and she will be spared.”

A growl ebbed in the back of Gaius’s throat.

Well played.  But this is far from over... 

There were still questions that he needed answers to but he conceded to let the matter rest for the moment.  Heirsbane lowered.  He mulled over Cassius’s ragged appearance.  He mulled over Allie having not mentioned him as one of her superiors.  And he mulled over the supplies being carried into the ship.  If he had to guess, the remnants of the VIIth had been living out in the ruined castrum with the hopes of not being discovered by the locals.  And now they planned to fly to a place beyond their reach.  A place where they could lay low while the civil war waged on.  Gaius counted easily ten in their number—a pitiful amount of survivors caught in an unfamiliar land.  Had they not been complicit in the Weapon Project, he may have felt sorry for them.  But only an emptiness remained. 

“I will agree to those terms,” Gaius said carefully, knowing there was a chance he would never see Cassius again.  But there was naught else to do.  Severa’s safety was more important than his closure. 

Cassius lowered his lance, head bobbing up and down.  His posture was sloppy and he leaned against his lance.  Gaius was certain he would have crumpled instantly in a fight—they all seemed weak and ragged from their circumstances.  But not weak enough to not slit a throat if needed.

Severa was placed on the ground between where the ramp lay and where both Kaida and Gaius were standing near the door.  The magitek ship’s engines roared to life when the last bit of supplies were loaded and Cassius’s merciless eyes fell upon Gaius.  There was hurt in them, vaguely hidden by a coldness that had been forged in betrayal and desperation.  Gaius remained stoic, his gaze set ahead of him as the ship made its final preparations for flight.  As the airship turned on, the tribunus glowered at him from where he lingered on the ramp. 

“Did Allie make it?” Cassius asked, voice nearly lost in the roar of the engine.

It was a curious inquiry.  But Gaius granted him the truth once.  For old time’s sake.

“Yes.”

A small half-smile wound on the blond’s lips and he turned away as the ship rose into the air.  The ramp pulled up, and the ship flew from the open hanger doors into the air.  Kaida ran to Severa’s aid and though Gaius shadowed her, it was to the distance where he kept his gaze.  The ship fell further and further away, carrying fragments of the past with it.  It was a solemn feeling that rested in his chest, watching the ship until it faded entirely, swallowed by the blue of the sky.

Chapter Text

Cassius bas Flavus kissed like a man who was always hungry and Gaius liked that about him.  His lips pressed hard into the legatus’s, fingers gripping handfuls of ashen brown hair with the faintest groan about his next exhale.  The warmth of Gaius’s palm found the base of Cassius’s neck, closing around it halfway.  In such close quarters, Gaius could savor the moment all whilst lounging in his cushioned armchair.  Cassius sat atop his growing bulge, hardening with yearning but held back by his breeches.  There was a plea in the blond’s stifled breath, tongue lacing between his lips for his liege’s in longing.  Gaius’s squeeze tightened, pulling his face just out of Cassius’s reach—a cruel temptation that nearly drove the concubine mad with a whine.  Another squeeze, just enough to hamper breathing for a few long seconds.  And when Cassius submitted to the grip with the languid, lustful roll of his shoulders, Gaius granted him his desire.  The Black Wolf’s tongue found its way into the blond’s ajar mouth, his free hand tracing down the barren torso before him until he was soon tugging at the lip of Cassius’s breeches, opting to ignore the strings that tied them.  His hand roughly pulled them down, fabric scraping against Cassius’s fair skin and his cock bouncing into view—stiff with dewy droplets of precum glistening at his head.

"My lord—” Cassius begged when his mouth had been freed from the legatus’s, his words cut off abruptly as Gaius’s index and middle finger traced the undersize of his shaft.  Just enough to tease the unfurling of his foreskin, exposing the pink of his head.  Enough to make him shiver into the arms of his liege and Gaius’s mouth upturned ever so slightly in the smuggest of smirks.

The Black Wolf’s hand dipped into the man’s pants again, freeing his scrotum and running his thumb over it.  His other hand found Cassius’s shaft and began to tug once more, gradually peeling back the foreskin.  It twitched and a crystalline glob dribbled onto Gaius’s pants.  Cassius leaned in, hungry once more for the taste of his lord and Gaius granted it to him.  Their lips met and Gaius put his hand to work stroking the man’s cock, savoring the feel of it in his hand as it continued to swell, to harden further until it was as rigid as iron.  And only then was the Black Wolf satisfied enough to pull his own shaft from his pants, letting its thick length course against Cassius’s in a loving nuzzle.  The swollen tip caressed Cassius’s, targeting that bundle of nerves just under the head.  Gaius heard a tiny gasp, hand moving around his lover’s hips to keep him rooted into his lap. 

Both shafts rested in his other palm and he rubbed them together at the heads, letting them grind and leak until they were covered in each other’s fluids.  Cassius melted further and further into the arm keeping him atop the legatus.  Gaius’s chuckle held a growl in it, fighting to keep the concubine atop of him as their cocks were rubbed.  It was a tantalizing sensation, building his need to spill in jolts of pleasure.  But he would have Cassius fully before he allowed himself that reward.

The blond moved for Gaius’s jaw and tracing it with both hands.  A gradual pull brought their lips together, tongues sliding against each other in a wet collision as they traded turns invading each other’s mouths.  All the while Gaius’s hands guiding their shafts to precise pleasure points, tugging down to stroke them both as best as he could with one hand.  Cassius whined into his mouth, a simple plea slipping from him between kisses.

“Mate me, Black Wolf.”

A surge of need coursed through Gaius’s shaft and he thought about how easy it would be to tear off the rest of Cassius’s pants and grant him his wish.  But he talked himself out of it, knowing better than to surrender fully to the bestial nature of his lust.  He slowed the frotting of their tips, a terrible and hungry heave about his chest as he breathed.

“The bed.  Now,” was all Gaius said and Cassius’s mouth slowly pulled into a smile that accented the points of his canines. 

Cassius obliged because he needed this as much as Gaius did.  A proper fucking.  Animalistic.  Dirty.  He climbed off of Gaius’s lap, letting his pants and undergarments both hit the ground.  They were discarded on the floor and Gaius chased after him, disrobing himself but never letting his yellow eyes off of his quarry. 

"When we first did this, I knew you had been with another man,” Cassius whispered as he stretched onto the bed and Gaius’s brows arched.  The blond smirked.  “You were too good with a cock to have only handled your own.”

No response to that came readily to mind.  Gaius let the rest of his garments fall to the floor, intermingling with Cassius’s.  His palm coursed over the man’s ass, feeling its small curve and thinking about how nice it would be sidle between his legs.  But Cassius turned over onto his back, a devil’s smirk playing about his thin lips.  Gaius grunted, grabbing him to roll him back onto his front but Cassius snared his arm with a vice-like grip.  He pulled Gaius close, legs spreading.  Their shafts touched again as Gaius all but fell onto Cassius, running the scruff of his cheek against Cassius’s nape.  Teeth grazing over his skin, leaving trails of wetness.

“I believe you said you wanted me to mate you,” Gaius growled into Cassius’s ear, tendrils of the blond’s hair tickling his nose. 

“I know you.  You like a bit of fuss with your fuck,” Cassius hissed back.  “And I like your teeth on me.”

“You enjoy causing a fuss.”

Unable to get a hand back onto both of their shafts, Gaius settled with pressing his hips into Cassius’s, one hand pinning the man’s left wrist while the other coursed down his side.  Fingertips testing his muscle, feeling the smoothness of his fair skin, and cheekily flitting over his perked nipple.  Cassius gasped, rendered speechless by the onslaught of kisses, bites, and caresses.  His hips bucked up and Gaius felt the hardness of his shaft press into his torso.  Thumb and index finger under jaw and he directed Cassius’ head to turn, exposing his nape.  Gaius’s teeth found him again, tongue savoring the taste of his skin as he bit.  A shudder, involuntarily and violent, echoed across the blond’s body. 

“Only for the response you give,” Cassius said between gasps.  “Who was he?”

Gaius paused, pulling back.  Cassius’s piercing blue eyes chased him, haunted him.  Reminded him.  A sinking feeling in his chest but he tore from it as he had for the past few years.  Some things just could not be discussed and Gaius was distinctly under the impression they never would be.  Cassius’s brows furrowed and the legatus grabbed his thigh, rolling him over without asking.

“Eager or perhaps evasive?” Cassius asked and Gaius’s hand moved to the man’s ass, slapping it and then gripping it.

“I thought you wanted mating, Flavus.”

His free hand found the base of his cock, stroking it to maintain its hardness.

“I want…” Cassius began but was cut off by the feel of Gaius’s shaft sliding between his cheeks.  A tease, enough to silence him.  He shivered in anticipation, the Black Wolf’s other hand moving to the small of his back to pin him to the bed.

“What do you want?” Gaius prompted in a husky voice, leaning slightly over.  Trailing his head around its desired destination.

“You, my lord,” came the answer, voice quivering.  “You… always you.”

And with a gentle roll of his hips, Gaius gave him exactly that.

Severa and Valdeaulin both awoke not long after Cassius’s departure.  Kaida spent some time checking their wounds, which seemed minimal.  They had been rendered unconscious fairly quickly into the attack, the Imperials leaving little more stung prides and lumps on their head.  As they sipped water and recovered, Gaius stared out at the open hanger as if that could somehow pull Cassius back.  Soft steps came from behind, angled slightly to his right.  Yet the Garlean’s baleful eyes kept steady forward.  Lips pursed in contemplation, mind burdened.  He did not have the strength to look at her.

“Who was he?” Kaida asked after a moment and Gaius was not sure how to answer that.

Cassius tol Flavus was a mystery to him.  But he had known Cassius pyr Flavus once.  Between the sheets, of course, and in a number of other ways.  The man was the son of a disgraced guardsman and not just any guard—a royal guard to the Emperor, having served Solus directly in his throne room. The Flavus family name was soiled after Cassius’s sire had failed to assassinate his liege while Cassius was still all but a child.  There had no political ideology conflict, just a lust for power.  But Solus had won that fight, as he had won so many others.  Cassius’s father had died in the dispute—shot dead by His Radiance himself.  That had left both a young Cassius and his mother bereft of a steady income to support an otherwise lavish lifestyle in Garlemald’s upper echelons.  The disgrace had seen them topple from social standings until they were without friends nor gold to sustain themselves.  Gaius suspected that was when Cassius had first taken to the streets, at an age far too young for such things.  But his mother was all but bedridden with illness and Cassius knew they needed money to eat.

 It was on the streets that Gaius had found him, already accustomed to the life of selling himself to whoever had the coin and the need for a quick and easy fuck.  Cassius had tried his ploy on him.  But Gaius had seen through it.  There was a scrappy hunger in him.  And then there was a devoted admiration as the years had gone by.  And now, there was an emptiness made by betrayal.

That pain in his eyes.  My departure from the Empire tears at him just as his father’s betrayal once did. 

“Gaius?” Kaida prompted.

“No one,” Gaius said to her, finding it in him to look back into her green eyes.  They did not seem convinced.  His lips creased wryly and he clarified.  “A familiar face from my years as a legatus… And no more.”

It ached a bit to say that but not out of heartbreak, out of guilt.  Cassius had been one of his concubines, a person he had accepted into his house for pleasure and for company.  And the man had delivered both in spades but that was a different life.  One that was too far gone to reclaim.  And Gaius knew better.

“You were friends,” Kaida said in understanding.  In that naïve way of hers.

He smiled bitterly.  “Yes.”

“I didn’t know you knew him.  He was stationed with me at Ala Mhigo,” Severa said, nursing a lump on her head with a cloth.  She winced and looked down at it, seeing some flecks of crimson.  “He never liked Zenos.  I imagine that’s why he doesn’t feel compelled to return.”

“When the Alliance overtook Ala Mhigo, he must have been among the few that managed to escape back to Garlemald,” Gaius remarked sourly.  “And was subsequently re-assigned to the VIIth.”

Allie… why didn’t you tell me…?

“Should we go after them?” Valdeaulin asked.

“There is no need,” came Gaius’s judgement.  “They will pose no threat as they are.”

“It was my fault we even had to let them go in the first place.  I’m sorry,” Severa said, head lowering.  “It really does seem like you’re having to save me all the time, Gaius.”

“They were ready for intruders.  That you’re both safe is more important,” he said, a distinct numbness in his chest, infecting his voice.  “There is still the matter of ensuring the VIIth left naught behind.”

Scouring the remnants of the fallen fortress took the next two bells, an arduous task that Gaius led in a sorrowful silence.  A few computers still stood in the science wing.  Gaius did not bother to check their database for information.  Everything here needed to go, needed to vanish.  No one needed to know what evils Valens had been up to.  Not even good hearts with better intentions.  Valdeaulin saw the remaining computers quickly turned to ash with a blaze of pyromancy.  As it smoldered, Gaius stared at it for a long while, musing over how this destruction was his legacy.  And then he turned and let it all burn away.  An unceremonious end.  But it was better this way.

Other than the security systems, there was hardly anything left.  Gaius felt the need to stay but he knew that was just old sentiments whispering poison to him.  Nothing was here for him any longer.  Just ghosts of memories he wanted both to keep and to discard.  After the computers burned away and the science wing was deemed devoid of anything remotely useful, Gaius made the decision to end the search.

“I’m sorry,” Kaida said to him in the corridor as they made their way back to the entrance of Castrum Collinum.  “I feel like my presence here was pretty useless.”

“With all due respect, Lady Asagiri,” Severa began weakly.  “I fear we were all relatively useless today.”

“We should all be thankful that we were able to get out of this mess unscathed,” Valdeaulin remarked as they stepped from the castrum front doors and into the sunlight.

The walk back to Terncliff was a blur at first, filled with thoughts that the Black Wolf kept trapped in his mind.  Cassius’s words fermented in his brain, leaving him with more and more questions that built up as the minutes passed.  He talked as though something ill had happened to the other concubines he had taken in—Marilla and Valentina.  He talked as though terrible things had transpired in the Baelsar manor after Varis’s death.  Comparing that to Kaida’s intel about Garlemald’s current state, Gaius feared what had happened.  It ruminated in a sickening ball in his stomach—dread and guilt.  Were Marilla and Valentina… dead?  All of the servants in the manor, too? 

“Let’s stop to eat,” Severa suggested, the sound of her voice tearing Gaius from his thoughts.

A bare lunch was eaten from things that Valdeaulin and Severa had packed.  It was scarcely enough to satisfy and the meager portions reminded him of their long days out in the Burn.  The stillness of the atmosphere had been eerie and the sun merciless.  They had struggled to conserve their supplies as they made the trek.  Adding Alphinaud to their list of mouths to feed had not helped either but they had managed until they had found greener wilderness to forage for food.

“Gaius,” Kaida said, a quietness about her voice that made it sound feathery soft.  His pupils swiveled in her direction.  The Raen was staring at him, that sunny gleam in her emerald irises.  But no words came out.  Just a simple stare, pressing and prying.  He was not used to that.  Not from her.

“… Kaida,” he prompted cautiously.

She broke eye contact, looking to the ground next to her.  “I suppose I don’t have anything to say… You just… hm.”

A slight rosy hue had taken to her cheeks.  Her fingers found strands of grass and combed through it, running the tips of her index and middle finger over the smooth blades.  The smallest movements of her lips made it look as though she were chewing on her next thoughts, measuring their worth.  And then finally, she confessed.

“You keep frowning.  More than usual.”

Instinctually, he frowned.  “And this… troubles you?”

“I’m not a fool, Baelsar,” Kaida said.  It was ‘Baelsar’ when she wanted to make a point, he noticed.  ‘Gaius’ when her voice softened.  “I know when someone is caught in their own thoughts.  And not in a good way.”

“I will not deny that I have been contemplating the events at Castrum Collinum,” he replied carefully.  “But there is little that can be done about it.  The die is cast and paths have been chosen.  Ensuring Werlyt is safe from the war to the north is my priority.”

She appeared thoughtful as she sipped from a pouch of water.  When she lowered it from her lips, the Raen remarked quietly. “Very well then.”

 And that was simply left at that.

The rest of the trip back to Terncliff was uneventful and Kaida spent the majority of the walk caught somewhere between reality and a daydream.  She found herself glancing to Gaius often—a recent strange habit that she did not quite understand.  Thankfully, if he noticed, he did not make any signs of showing it.  By the time the inn came into sight, she was sweating buckets under her armor.  Severa and Valdeaulin dismissed themselves and Gaius carried on to his room with that semi-vacant expression.  Kaida’s worried gaze followed him until he disappeared behind the shut door and she made her way back to her room. 

As soon as she threw the door open, she was greeted with a sight that made her exhaustion only deepen.  Sitting atop her bed were a series of letters—all delivered while she was away.  Kicking the door behind her, she walked over and grabbed the top one, turning it over in her hands.

Kaida,

I have tried three times to call your linkpearl and found that you were not responding so I sent a postmoogle with all haste in your direction.  I understand Cid has asked for you to stay in Terncliff and while I will not urge you come back immediately, I must remind you that we are not an organization with a limitless budget.  And while I’m sure the Garlond Ironworks are happy to fund your stay, I would be remiss if I did not remind you that we are not in a position to fund any vacations!  So please keep all spending to a minimum.

I will be frank; the last time you and I spoke, I was getting concerned you were quite tired and needed a respite.  So I hope this serves as such for you.  But again… spending to a minimum!  Please let me know if anything happens afield and do not forget your linkpearl!

Thank you,

Scions of the Seventh Dawn Receptionist,

Tataru Taru

“Ah…” Kaida glanced over at where she had left her linkpearl on the dresser next to the bed.  In all honesty, she had not forgotten to grab it—she had left it intentionally, knowing that delving into the castrum with frequent reports coming in from the front would be a recipe for disaster.  She had not wanted distractions.  But perhaps leaving it behind entirely had been a mistake… What if something urgent had come up?

At that hypothetical question, Kaida knew the correct response and the response her tired heart wanted to give.  Bitterly, she smiled at the letter, offering a wordless apology to Tataru.

Ever since the mission at Norvrandt and the battle against Emet-Selch, she had started to burn out from her duties and that had led to her head not feeling as though it were entirely on straight, so to speak.  Careless mistakes were becoming more frequent.  Knowing the truths of the world’s origins put everything in a grim perspective.  And despite all of the Ascian Paragons being dead, it only felt like more and more foes were rearing their heads in a never-ending cycle of conflict.  Once, she would have greeted such challenges with a smile and her claymore brandished.  But more often than not lately, she was mentally fatigued.  And she could not deny that to herself any longer.  There were days she longed to slip into the wilderness.  To hear the silence, save for the pitter-patter of rainfall or the rustling of leaves in the wind.  But just as she wanted to wander, she felt the need to stay and help where she could.  Being a Warrior of Light was difficult.  It was simply in the job description.  And this was a phase that would pass, she told herself.  She just needed the right… thing to happen.  And what that thing was, Kaida Asagiri did not know.  But she knew it was out there somewhere.

The next letter was penned from her sister.

Kaida,

I am glad to hear from you and think of you every day, as I have since the day you left.  It is seldom we get word in Ao-no-Sato of the events of the outside world.  However, recently a Kojin of the Blue came and told us of the ongoing war with Garlemald.  Is it true the mighty Empire is crumbling?  The elders do not believe it and we have since doubled down our security, just to be safe. 

Lady Hoshimiya has fallen ill.  Though not many know this, her ability to cast magic is waning.  She experiences body aches that make it hard for her to concentrate.  The elders are beginning to question if this is not a sign that it will soon be her time to join them in their ranks.  It seems sudden, especially for one such as her, who is barely a year older than our own mother.  Should Lady Hoshimiya retire, we will have to select a new High Priestess… and Mother is, of course, pushing the elders to choose me.  She has not said it outright but I know her.  It is all up to the kami regardless.  But maybe if I am made High Priestess, I could speak with the elders about your sentence.  We all know forcing you to find Odokuro was an impossible task.  You have been away from home for twelve long years and my heart aches to see you again.  We were still children when we were separated.  And the older I get, the crueler it feels to be apart from my dear twin.  I can promise nothing but perhaps someday, we could all be together again.  My heart yearns for it and I know yours does too.

Kousuke, Father, and Mother are all well.  Grandmother and Grandfather as well, though I know you likely do not care to hear that.  Kousuke may have found a bride in a local girl, though Grandmother is quite cross that she is of a lower class.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you were to return as an aunt?  I should think you would make a good one, with all the stories you could share from your travels. 

Write to me as soon as you can.  I know it is hard to get letters here but I cherish every single message from you.  Please be well, sister.  One day, we will see each other again.

Sincerely,

Aika Asagiri

Kaida stared at the letter for a long time, a tightness in her chest as she lowered it back onto the bed.  So the High Priestess that had all but condemned her into exile was going to retire soon… She was not sure how to feel about that.  Going back to Ao-no-Sato, her home town, after so long away… it terrified her.  But Aika’s sweet words rang in her mind and with that fear came guilt.

I was just thinking to myself that I do not know if I could call myself a shrine maiden any longer… and now this letter comes in, as if to remind me that no matter how long it’s been, my past is still there.  It’ll always be there.  Even if I ignore it.

A sigh and the Raen tossed the letter to the side, grabbing the next one.

To whom it may concern,

Good afternoon, I am Roroqa with the Chocobo Insurance Agency.  Are you aware that your chocobo’s warranty has expired and—

She ripped the letter in half and tossed its scraps into the waste bin.  The remaining letters were picked up and set aside on the dresser.  Kaida unstrapped her armor and fell onto the bed in her undershirt and pants, the top of the sheets carrying a cold nip that felt good against her skin.  She was sticky with sweat and on most days, she would not mind that.  But with vestigial aches from getting zapped by Garlean lasers, it put her in a foul mood.  Aika and Tataru’s letters had not helped.  And with a sigh, Kaida Asagiri picked herself up from her bed and forced herself to take a bath.

Drawing warm water into the tub, she stripped off her clothes and undergarments, glancing into the mirror at herself.  There was bruising on her ribs, legs, and arms, partially concealed by the snowy white scales that coursed along her arms and ran the outside of her thighs and legs.  The bruising had taken up an angry violet tone and being a glutton for punishment, Kaida prodded one of the marks.  It grumpily ached, enough for her wince visibly.  She shook it off and put herself into the warm water.  A light scrub got the grime off of her and she was tender around her injuries.  Lavender-scented soap was applied and for a moment, she laid back to bask in the warmth of the water.

What am I doing here?  Kaida wondered for the thousandth time.  The quiet of the inn room was nice but the soft ringing of silence only reminded her that she was away from the Rising Stones and her friends.

I’m here because Gaius wanted me to be.  It’s just another job, in the end.  Another task for a Warrior of Light.

…

Is that what you’re telling yourself, Kaida?  That this is all because of Gaius?  Don’t blame him for your actions.

Kaida let her fingers trail in the water, trying to use the sensation to distract her from her own thoughts.  But that cruel voice continued.

He’s a man who just lost most of his children in the most horrible way imaginable.  He’s carried enough—he does not need you to burden him with anything else.

She grimaced.

You’re burning out faster than a match.  Maybe you came here to run.  Part of you has always wanted to run.  You said no then.  Would you say no now?

She swallowed.  These were familiar, dark feelings.  She worked to shove them away but they were persistent.  In the midst of her struggle, she felt an old presence stir in her chest.  It was a part of her that lay dormant more often than not, but its movement inside her pools of emotion was most welcome.  Wordlessly, it took her hand and batted back her own cruel thoughts.  And then, it went back to sleep, a cranky old mentor from days long passed.  She thanked Fray silently for the help regardless, listening to her doubts as they retreated.  Yet as they did, they offered one final scathing statement.

You work day in and day out as a Warrior of Light.  Always the first to volunteer for the hardest tasks.  And you know why.  You don’t want to be like the stupid little girl that got herself exiled from her home, do you?  A negligent, lazy daydreamer.  You don’t want to disappoint the Scions like you did your own parents.  And so you’ll run yourself ragged to make up for it.  Because at the end of the day, you’re scared. 

Her upper lip curled into a sneer, glaring holes through the ceiling.  Suddenly the warmth of the bath was unappealing to her and she crawled her way out, drying herself off with a fluffy white towel and slipping on some casual wear.  A white, airy blouse and a set of capri pants paired with sandals that laced up past her ankles.  She took to the balcony soon after, glancing down at where the blue-gray waters met the craggy beach.  Kaida thought about taking a swim but decided against it.  Instead, she let the salted breeze waft over her and leaned against the railing, pensive with a weight on her chest.

Even if I was allowed to go back home… should I?  Even to visit?  I’m not the person I was when I left... and things have been awfully busy lately…

She stared out across the sky and sea, as if the glint of the waves or the puff of the clouds could give her the answers she sought.  Kaida remained disappointed, watching as the sun neared the horizon and the sky began to change color.  She slipped inside as the temperature lowered, feeling only marginally better.  Room service food was ordered from the inn’s kitchen, with an unspoken apology to Tataru for the extra gil she was burning.  Sometimes, one simply needed to eat food in the comfort of a bed and so Kaida did just that.

Outside, night took over and the stars glistened.  And while she told herself she should retire early for the evening, she found herself strangely restless after her meal.  Restless enough to depart her room with no destination in mind.  The night called to her in a quiet tone, beckoning her into its shadowy arms.  She stepped out from the lobby, letting the crisp breeze tickle over her.  A few steps were taken from the inn’s quaint courtyard and she saw that she was not the only one who had vacated her room.

Gaius stood with his elbows resting on the nearby guard rail protecting the cobblestone street from a sudden cliffside drop.  His back was to her but even with her soft steps, she knew he could hear her approaching.  She stared at him for some time, musing over how the day had both made them into restless fools in the end.  And craving someone to fill the silence, she neared him, taking up a spot that was neither too close nor too far.

It was then that she realized she had nothing to say to him.  Or rather, a lot of things she wanted to say but they clogged her throat and silenced her.  It was stupid, Kaida thought to herself, how standing next to him sometimes made her feel like a complete moron. 

“How do your injuries fare?” he asked her.  Not glancing in her direction.

“I will be fine,” she insisted.  “A few bruises and nothing more.”

A pause and a side-eye from him.  “It was a foolish act.”

Kaida began to huff at that but she was too tired to argue with him.

“And yet I find myself impressed,” he continued and that disarmed her.  “You have grown stronger since Praetorium.  That much is clear to me.  Why take up the sword?”

“That’s a strange question.”

“Mm.  Is it now?  I seem to recall your spell-slinging effective enough.”

Kaida found herself looking up at him, at the way the faint amber of his irises gleamed in the moonlight.  It enchanted her, that gilded hue.  And seemingly without reason, her cheeks burned.

“Ul’dah,” she answered.

A slight cock of his brow.

“You may struggle to believe this but sometimes, things don’t always go as planned.  Or as they should.  There were some bad things that happened in the months after what happened at Praetorium.  I tried to stop it all from happening but… I wasn’t enough,” Kaida said wistfully.  “When the situation grew dire, I felt useless.  And I did not want to feel that way ever again.  It was enough for me to put aside my healing magic.  Besides… most people tend to treat you more seriously if you’re holding a claymore to their neck.  Far more than if you were to hold a cane.”

A blade didn’t save Haurchefant, a part of her reminded herself but she cut off that train of thought before it could progress anywhere further.  She had done what she had thought was right.  And some things were out of her control, as hard as it was to admit.

“A statement that is not untrue,” Gaius considered aloud. 

“I don’t understand why you just now asked me this.”

“A mere curiosity.  And I think we can both agree that our history has been unstable until recent months.”

Likely the understatement of the era.

“I… Well, that’s one way to phrase it.  But what you said before about guns and who pulls the trigger…” Kaida began.  “… I think you’re right.”

He nodded slightly.

“Once, I had thought to cross blades with you again.  To let our grown strength to decide if perhaps what happened at Praetorium was a fluke.  Now I know that I do not need to cross blades with you to know the answer,” Gaius replied calmly.  “Though I… must admit, the thought of fighting you once more is enticing.”

“E-enticing?” Kaida sputtered.

“It would be a friendly bout, of course.”

“A sparring match… Hm.  All right.  I could agree to that.”

He glanced in her direction, bewildered for a moment before giving an approving nod.  “If you would desire to, then I would be honored.  But only when you have recovered.  I do not wish for a handicap.”

“You might need one,” Kaida jabbed playfully and the Black Wolf gave her a wry smirk.

“Careful, champion.  That tongue of yours might land you in trouble someday,” he remarked.

“As if it already hasn’t,” she said with a laugh.  “You’re different than I thought you would be, you know.”

“You have said that to me before.  I still do not understand your meaning,” Gaius replied.

“My grandmother used to tell stories about you,” Kaida said, the words slipping from her mouth before she could realize it and his brows arched in surprise.  “Er… well.  They were flattering stories in perhaps the… way you’d not like to hear.  My village did not hold the Garlean Empire in high regard.”

He smiled bitterly at that.

Kaida scratched one of her horns.  “There were stories about the Empire.  Stories about you.  It… left an impression on me.  When I came to Eorzea, I thought you were someone larger than life.  But I suppose people like that don’t get bucked off of chocobos now do they?”

“I think you will find with most tales, the truth slips further and further away as time wears on,” Gaius remarked sourly.

“Something I’ve learned throughout the years…” Kaida said with a smile.  “But… I’m sorry.  I guess that’s maybe entering into awkward territory.  What I mean to say is that you surprise me sometimes.  With how utterly normal you can be.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Ahhhh, not in a bad way.  It’s just…” Kaida fumbled suddenly, feeling her heart lurch.  Gods and kami above, she was not good at this kind of small talk for some reason.  Especially with him.  “… It’s hard to describe.  But I…”

I like it.  I like him.

And that inward confession hit her like a herd of chocobos, ripping away her thoughts and stomping on them.  And she thought about the way his eyes gleamed.  And his jawline.  And his hair.  And the way he looked at her.  And that made her heart thump louder and louder by the second.  She knew this feeling.  She had known it once.  With another.  And she remembered how that ended.

‘Wait for me’, I said to him.  ‘Wait for me’… and then he…

No.  No, she did not want to think about that.  Kaida cleared her throat abruptly, shaking her head vigorously, as if that could rid her of the memory. 

“… You’re just not the kind of person I thought you would be, is all I mean.  And I’m glad for it,” the Raen clarified delicately.

By the fucking kami, I’m either out of my mind or those lasers hit me harder than I thought.  Am I really crushing on Gaius Baelsar?  The Black Wolf?           

“… You are equally full of surprises yourself, Kaida Asagiri,” Gaius mused, voice softening and eyes gazing into the distance, a warmth about them.  She had naught to say to that, her chest flooding with emotion and squeezing with nerves.  Her natural instinct was to flee at moments like this, to collect herself and try to talk herself through everything logically.  But her feet felt rooted to the spot. 

“That sparring match.  Name a time and place and I will be there,” she said, his expression undiscernible. 

“Very well,” he answered. 

“We should both be getting some rest, even if it’s difficult to,” Kaida added, trying to weave an escape.  Her realization made her want to flee into her room and lock the door.  But his face, illuminated by the soft blue glow of the moon, made her want to stay.  And, feeling quite torn apart, the Raen forced herself to stare at her feet.  “Cid and Nero should have the machina ready.”

“Mm,” came his reply.  Non-committal, a gentle purr from the back of his throat.  It made her skin tingle.

“Goodnight, Gaius,” Kaida said over her should as she began to walk away, each step only serving to make her feel worse and worse.  By the time she made it to her room, she felt miserable, throwing herself onto the bed face-first.

I don’t want to believe it’s true.  I don’t want to believe I have a crush on him.

When she buried her face into the covers of the bed, she closed her eyes and saw his face.  And that only made her neck burn more, that tingle across her skin spreading like a web of electricity.  She hated this feeling; it felt like playing with fire.  She was only going to burn herself, she thought bitterly.  But the mere thought of him made her smile in a stupid, girly way and she responded to it with a quiet scream into her pillow.  She did not want to disturb her neighbors after all or, Twelve fucking preserve, have Gaius hear her screaming.  He would come running surely and what then?  What could she possibly say?

I’m going to go to bed.  I’m going to close my eyes.  And this will all go away.  It’s just a fluke.  It’s just a damn fluke.  I was emotional after Aika and Tataru’s letters.  That’s all.

She was blatantly lying to herself.  The signs were all there.  And with hindsight giving her clearer vision, she supposed the signs had been there for some time now.  Perhaps even before things had finished with the VIIth Legion.

The guilt that came with her realization and inner confession was nearly too much for her to take.  Her eyes burned with tears as she hugged her pillow, face buried into it.  She thought of Haurchefant.  She thought about how they had come so close but she had pulled away.  She thought about the disappointment in his eyes.  She thought about the way the sky had turned gold that day at the Vault.  She thought about the sound when the spear had hit--

“No,” she whispered into the pillow.  “No…”

So many thoughts passed through her mind.  Guilt over her feelings about Gaius.  Guilt over having feelings at all.  Fear of breaking her vows—vows that scarcely seemed relevant to her anymore.  Embarrassment over having a crush.  Begrudgingly telling herself that a Warrior of Light didn’t need such distractions but feeling the way her heart ached when she thought those words.  Thinking back to that night with Haurchefant in his father’s manor…

I told him to wait.  I was scared over my vows.  Over the Dragonsong War.  I deprived him of his happiness and I don’t deserve any for myself. 

Those thoughts rang out louder than the others and she turned them over in her mind, chewing on them before realizing they were right.  She did not deserve anything of the sort.  Gaius Baelsar and a Warrior of Light was an impossible couple.  These feelings she had were better left buried.  That was where they belonged.  And that was where Kaida Asagiri decided to put them.

Just until the test pilot stuff is done.  Then I can flee this place and those amber eyes too.

Her eyes skirted to a nearby clock, realizing the hour.  It was late.  She really did need to sleep but her mind was all over the place.  Still, she forced herself up and out of bed with a heavy sigh.

Kaida got ready for bed quickly, fuming at herself the entire while.  By the time she flicked the lights out, she knew she was too riled up in her own emotions to sleep.  But stubbornly, she forced herself to lay down.  The night would be full of her mulling over Gaius Baelsar as she glared at the ceiling.  A torture and indulgence she could not deny herself. 

When Gaius returned to his hotel room, his mind was swimming with thoughts still but the events of the day had tired him enough to make bed sound appealing.  He realized quickly that Allie was home but asleep already.  A part of him wanted to rouse her to speak about Cassius but he knew better.  Some things could wait, he told himself bitterly.  They had waited this long, one more night would not cause the end of the world.  With a sigh, he carried himself onward to bed, closing the door behind him.

The silence let melancholy thoughts in.  Seeing Cassius again had taken him back to days long passed.  Rowdier days, when they had lived in blissful debauchery under the veil of Solus’s propaganda.  It left a tumultuous feeling in his heart, recalling the sex and recalling their relationship.  Memories like that rang out like distant bells chiming from the past.  Gaius had thought he had forgotten it all but one look into Cassius’s angry eyes and he felt as though those days were just yesterday.  He thought of how Cassius had felt hungry in those days.  Hungry for validation and the taste of lips upon his.  And now Cassius seemed hungry for something else—vengeance.  How cruel the times had been to them all.

When Gaius sat on the bed, he thought about how Kaida seemed hungry sometimes.  Passed that peaceful smile she carried, there was a burning in her irises, like twin green fires that could consume the whole world if they wanted to.  She was all posturing and stances, of course—he had known that fairly quickly.  But she was not good at hiding herself—not nearly as good as she thought she was.  He had told himself to refrain for the sake of being proper.  But that sharp tongue of hers made it difficult to do so.  And that hunger he saw in her.  She made him feel like a fool and that was frustrating.  Yet he found himself smiling.  In spite of all his attempts to maintain that distant barrier, he found it quickly shattering at merely at her presence.  Perhaps there were some things even about himself that were out of his control.

Chapter Text

Kaida awoke to a knock at the door, which she answered after stumbling about the inn room akin to a drunken chocobo.  Her shoulder clipped the wall and she nearly tumbled into the door as she reached it.  When she opened it, she found a moogle drifting at eye-level, satchel in one hand and a letter waving about her face.  The Raen snatched the letter and shut the door abruptly, looking down in surprise to see that the envelope was addressed to her from Nero of all people.  She thumbed the letter open, sleepily reading over what she hoped was a brief and concise missive about their impending trial with the G-Savior.  It was unfortunately none of those things; in fact, it took the tired Kaida three times to read it before she realized that the day’s training was cancelled.  Something about Cid spilling his coffee on something and frying some wires—though Kaida was pretty sure that was a jest.  She hoped so, at least.

Regardless, having the day off made her feel both relieved and irritated.  Admitting to herself that she was harboring feelings for the Black Wolf made her want to flee at the thought of seeing him again.  But losing a day’s worth of work was annoying.  Besides, what was she going to do all day by herself?  Wander Terncliff aimlessly?  She supposed she could but just walking about would do little to distract her from the painfully slow passage of time.  Kaida needed a plan.  Something to occupy her mind.  She glanced towards the window and saw the blue of the ocean in the gap between curtains.  And that was when an idea sprung to mind. 

Her swimsuit was fished out of her travel bag – a dainty, silver-gold bikini that Lyse had insisted looked good on her.  Kaida found it a bit too revealing but she had decided to go with it because the other swimsuits frankly had been ill-fitting.  It would be cold in the Werlytian waters but a swim would do her good.  When was the last time she had even gone swimming?  When was the last time she had gotten to spend a day listening to the gentle roar of the waves or feel sand underfoot?  Small reminders of the Ruby Sea—sometimes the only reminders that she cared to dwell on. 

Kaida donned her swimwear, grabbing a towel from the washroom.  Looking at her mostly naked body, she felt self-conscious, wrapping a towel around her midsection to hopefully deter some stares.  Her hair was tied back and she slid on some sandals for the quick trip from the inn to the beach.  At the touch of her hand upon the doorknob, Kaida hesitated.  A part of her felt like a fool for taking the opportunity to enjoy her day off.  It felt like a betrayal somehow.  Her comrades were out there fighting wars and she was in a bikini, thinking about taking a pleasant dip. 

She shook her head vigorously, trying to rid herself of her own hesitation.  There was nothing else that could be done.  She would have rather thrown herself off the jagged cliffside than sit alone with her thoughts.  Kaida forced herself out the door, telling herself to not make any eye contact as she made the trip down the breezeway towards the inn’s entry.  She did not even spare a look at the front desk attendant as she made her way out the door.

Terncliff was to the north and that made its air crisper and colder than that of the Ruby Sea.  A touch of the breeze against her skin made her second-guess her decision but Kaida forced herself forward, feeling ashamed to make the sulk back to her room.  She had already made it this far—may as well test the waters, quite literally.

The beach was accessed by a walkway near the town’s western gates, feeding down the hefty cliff to a small cove.  It was not a large beach; not by a longshot, but it was enough for her.  She wandered the sand for some time before kicking off her sandals and looking out across the blue waters.  It was perhaps not an ideal day for a swim, with the distant horizon greying with clouds and a sharp wind over the sleepy Terncliff.  But she unwrapped the towel around her body and set it on the ground. 

When her toes touched the very edge of the water, she sucked in a breath involuntarily at its chill.  And then she carried on into its cold depths, letting it come to her knees then to her waist before dropping down into it.  Her meager bathing suit did nothing to help against the biting cold of the ocean but she told herself she would grow accustom to it before long.  She swam until her feet could not touch the ground any longer and then she let herself float for a while. 

Though Kaida had hoped the water’s chill and the act of swimming would be enough to distract her troubled mind, it helped very little.  Soon enough, Aika’s letter was on her mind, tormenting her.  Kaida began her tired debate of going back and forth if she should even consider returning to Ao-no-Sato without proof of slaying Odokuro.  It would be considered an affront to the kami, she was certain.  But Aika was their golden child; she could get the elders to see anything, especially if she was made into the next High Priestess. 

Going home… I haven’t seen Mother or Father in over a decade.  Do they look the same, I wonder?  Wonder if Father’s started greying yet.  And Aika… do we still look similar, I wonder?  We took such different paths in life, though I guess we had no say in that…

The thought of returning home almost meant like forgetting all that had happened since she had left.  The Calamity.  Operation Archon.  Stopping the Dragonsong War.  The fight to free Ala Mhigo… And then everything on Norvrandt.  Everything that they learned.  The truth about the past.  The weight of it still there on her shoulders, in her chest, in her heart.  A truth she did not want to accept as real.

Those skyscrapers in Amaurot were more familiar than I wanted them to be.  But it felt like something from a dream.  Something that couldn’t be real…

She realized her wet fingers had intertwined into her bangs out of frustration, teeth clenched and eyes staring at the sky as if it could offer her solace.  Emet-Selch’s final plea rang in her head more often than she wanted to admit.  Her heart was a pendulum, swinging between a callous numbness and an overwhelming guilt, born from feelings that felt like belonged to someone else.  It terrified her.  And she wanted to scream at Emet’s echoing voice that she was not who he thought she was.  That he was wrong.  That there was nothing to remember.

Kaida did not want to think about him.  She did not want to remember him.  So stubbornly, she shut her eyes and she floated on the water’s surface on her back.  But the self-imposed darkness offered no respite.  Gaius’s face came to mind, wearing that cocky smirk of his.  And when she did not see him, she saw Haurchefant, bathed in the firelight that looked too much like a sunset for her liking.  The glow of it brought back bad memories…

‘Wait for me, Haurchefant…’

She had been a fool back then; drunk off of her own grief.  The loss of the Scions, the betrayal at Ul’dah—some storms were too big to weather and Kaida had drowned in it all.  Still clutching the broken remains of her cane and her tears turned to ice, she had stumbled her way from Thanalan to Coerthas.  She had prayed that she would reunite with the others there but her prayers, like so many times before, had gone unanswered.  Just a paltry few of the Warriors of Light had made it from the fight in Ul’dah.  The Bloody Banquet seemed to have undone the carefully-woven threads they had sewn into the realm…

That was when she had taken up the greatsword.  The mantle of the dark knight seemed so large for one so small but she bore it well.  And Haurchefant, arms always open, had been there for her.  She had leaned on him for support and what happened next was something of a tale as old as time, but its ending was ugly, unfitting…

At least, that was what Kaida thought when she knelt by his side in his final moments.  Blood seeped between his teeth, tainting his smile as his life bled away.  The horror that struck her heart was sharper than any spear Ser Zephirin could have thrown.  Her hands, shaking, tried to heal his wounds—dug back into the old conjury teachings then further back when that failed, into the geomancy her mother had taught her.  When Haurchefant’s wounds failed to close, she knew he was beyond saving.  But she tried anyways, fingers wet with the slick of his blood.  Listelle was next to her, blue ponytail whipping about like a banner in the coarse wind.  In the attempt to liberate Ser Aymeric from a bloody execution, the Warriors of Light had been dispatched to the Vault.  A handful to the east side.  A handful to the west.  Listelle, a fellow Raen, had been charged with keeping Kaida alive as she barreled through the Vault guard. 

The sunset ran red.  It was an omen if Kaida had ever seen one.

“You...You both are unharmed? F-Forgive me... I could not bear the thought of… of…” Haurchefant managed out.

"Stop it. You’ll be fine after healing…!” Kaida said to him hurriedly.

It was a lie.  She knew it.  The gods did too.

Kaida cursed herself for not sticking with her healing arts, feeling her aether pool nearing its limit.  She was dizzy, lengthy side-swept bangs falling over her eyes.  There was not a spell she knew that could have saved him.  It was as though by telling him to wait for her, she had doomed him.  She had doomed the both of them.  Kaida stifled a sob, forcing it out in an angered exhale as her watery eyes met Haurchefant’s.  Like a fire deprived of tinder, they were beginning to fade out.  With it went something in her heart, something she could not quite describe.

“It’s not working--- Kaida, it’s not working--We have to do better-- We can...can still fix this--” Listelle said breathlessly, her exhaustion ringing clear in her tone. 

We can’t, Kaida thought.  There was no fixing this. 

“K-Kaida, I have to do this.  Please forgive me…!” Listelle’s whisper came as a soft warning.  By the time the Dark Knight’s eyes lifted to see what the healer was doing, it was too late.

One hand fell upon Haurchefant’s chest.  Listelle’s eyes closed.  Kaida could tell she was concentrating on something.  She was digging deep into her pools of aether.  Through her horror, the Dark Knight felt her unease rise like an ocean wave—from the pit of her stomach to the base of her neck.   

“Listelle, don’t--” Kaida began, trying to summon the energy to pick herself up from the ground.  But her armor felt heavier than before and her limbs, so terribly weak.  She swayed as she tried to stand, reaching for the healer with one hand while the other still maintained a fruitless effort on Haurchefant’s mortal wound.

“DON’T...tell me what I can’t do. Let me do this!” Listelle snapped angrily at her, light blossoming around them like starlight.  Kaida’s eyes flashed wide. 

There was a decision to be made.  Stop the course of fate.  Redirect it.  Spare a life by taking another.  Kaida sat in those moments and she contemplated the weight of two souls.  Neither one deserved to die.  And as Kaida labored to determine what she should do, she felt her heart split into two, bleeding halves.  Her despairing eyes fell upon Haurchefant.  And then they dragged to Listelle.  A life for a life and Kaida knew it was wrong.  She did not want to be the one to make that decision.  She pled for the gods to spare her from this miserable choice.

And yet, in that holy place, the gods were silent.  And Kaida was left to make that choice.

“No--No-no--someone stop her…” Kaida began hoarsely, voice cracking then rising.  “Someone stop her!”

She begged Haurchefant for forgiveness.

It was Estinien who answered her plea.  His hands went around the healer’s wrists.  The lights faded and with them, any hope of redirecting fate.  The spell was interrupted.  His voice raged out like a dragon’s roar.  “You will not be a martyr!  There’s nothing you can do!  It’s too late.”

“I CAN FIX THIS. LET ME--” Listelle yelled as they struggled against each other.

A squeeze upon Kaida’s hand brought her gaze back to Haurchefant.  She had not realized they had been holding each other.  But there they were, eyes locked, fingers interlaced.  There were so many things she wanted to tell him.  About how she wished she had never told him to wait.  About how her vows felt so flimsy under the weight of her budding grief.  But all she could do was stare at him incredulously as tears splashed onto his wounded chest. 

“Oh, do not look at me so, Kaida,” he said to her, voice soft and ethereal as a silent twilight.  “A smile better suits a hero…”

She felt his hand go limp.  She saw the light fade in his eyes.  It was a nightmare made reality. 

Kaida was dimly aware that Listelle had passed out in Estinien’s arms.  She heard Aymeric approach her, careful steps making a rhythm marred by his injuries at the hands of the Heavens’ Ward.  His hand fell on her shoulder and in a knee-jerk reaction, she slapped him away, striking fast as a viper.

“Stop!” she snarled at him, both of her hands vigorously gripping Haurchefant’s hand as if she could squeeze it back to life.  Her tear-filled eyes dragged into Aymeric’s—those perfect baby blues that went with his flawless, picturesque face.  His mouth was drawn into a small gasp of shock, brows risen high.  She hated that innocent bewilderment that covered his angelic features.  She hated the sunset.  She hated this land and the cruel people that ruled it. 

“This is your fault.”

The words fell from her lips, accusing and scathing at the Lord-Commander.  She rose, hand not quite ready to bid Haurchefant’s farewell but she let him go, letting his hand fall to his side, in the pool of blood that surrounded him.  Kaida moved for Aymeric, the peripherals of her vision blurred.  A gauntlet-clad fist reared back to strike him, upper lip curled into a snarl as she did.  But his grip upon her wrist was firmer than she anticipated, born from a lifetime of martial training and his bigger stature. The sound of Lucia unsheathing her blade rang across the stilled rooftop of the Vault.  Quickly, the Lord-Commander shot her a disapproving glare and Lucia stayed her hand.

“My lady!” Aymeric’s voice rose with the hints of a roar—mere hints only, still desperately clinging onto his typical poise in the face of the tragedy before them.  Those baby blues did not seem as kind this time; as she looked up into them, they pierced into her like needles but she welcomed their malice.

“If you had not gone by yourself… if you had just…!” Kaida began.

He shook her once by her arm.  It was enough to cut her outrage off—enough to clear her head slightly. 

“He is gone and we must needs continue,” Aymeric said to her and for a moment, she heard the pain in his voice.  “I will inform Count de Fortemps myself.  But for now, we must quit this place.”

She had nothing to say.  Not to him.  Not to the glowering, angered Lucia at his side.  Not to Estinien, as he lifted Listelle into his arms.  The wind howled over the Vault, breaking the reverent silence along with the soft sound of Kaida’s sobs.

The memory played over in her mind and she ruminated over it.  Her eyes had opened, staring blankly at the sky above her.  That had… not been her best moment.  She had apologized to Aymeric afterwards—though not until after the funeral.  Kaida still remembered the choir music that was sung that day, remembering the size of his coffin and the sleek build of it.  Edmont de Fortemps had spared no expense to ensure his son was given a proper memorial service.  Haurchefant may have come into the world as a bastard but he left it nothing short of royalty.

Remembering it all used to make her cry.  But that had stopped just a few years ago.  It was an old wound, covered in scar tissue and slightly unfeeling.  The melancholy was no longer sharp but a dull ache in her chest.

She thought of Gaius again.  That smirk.  Those eyes.  They entranced her with a radiance that was not unlike the sun.  But she reminded herself once more of her past mistakes.  Of her vows.  And once more, she chided herself for thinking of the Black Wolf so fondly.  Even if it was a pleasant reprieve from the darker thoughts that had been clouding her mind.

Movement from her peripherals caught her attention and the Raen’s head swiveled in the direction of the beach.  Someone approached and when she identified them, her contemplative floating was interrupted by a small, awkward flail. 

Oh, you’ve got to be joking.  What’s he’s doing here!?

Gaius stood at the water’s edge, clearly looking out at her.  He was clad in his tattered brown overcoat, Heirsbane slung upon its holster at his back.  Gaius said nothing to her but she knew a summon when she saw one.  Kaida swam her way towards the shore, heart thundering against her chest.  She started to rise from the water but realized what she was wearing (or, rather, how little she was wearing) and sank back down so that everything was covered from the collarbone down.

“I assume you’re not here to stare at the ocean, Baelsar,” she said, keeping her tone neutral.

“No.  Cid bade me to find you,” Gaius said and her brows arched.  “It would seem your… assistant is looking for you?  I have a letter… several letters, actually.  All addressed to you.”

How in the hells do I get so much mail…?

“I don’t have an assistant,” Kaida replied sharply.  “And any mail can be delivered to my room.”

“Does the name ‘Tataru Taru’ mean nothing to you?” Gaius asked.  “She asked that the letters be handed directly to you and Cid insisted he was too busy to hand them off.”

The Raen thought about submerging herself under the water at the sound of that name, knowing all too well what that meant.  Another missive, likely more Warrior of Light business.  She could not mask her vexed sigh. 

“Is it too much to ask for a proper day off?” Kaida asked the Black Wolf warily.

A small, subtle smirk fell onto his lips.  “For the likes of a Warrior of Light, yes.”

“If I tell you that I’m otherwise preoccupied and therefore unable to attend to any important business unless the world is about to end, would you believe me?” Kaida asked him.  His level stare gave her the answer she did not want to hear.  “… I thought not.  Very well.”

She sighed once more then kicked off from the sand underfoot, drifting a bit further out into the water.  Maybe it was childish to want to run from her problems but the thought of looking through the letters was so repulsive that she could not help herself.  The ocean was cold but that chill was far more welcome that more reminders of her responsibilities.

“… if you think I mean to chase you into the water…” Gaius began.

“Oh, you won’t,” Kaida replied confidently.  “Unless you’re wearing a swimsuit under that thick coat of yours.”

“I am not,” Gaius confirmed with a slight nod.  “But I also do not require one.”

“Why is that?” Kaida asked, side-eyeing him.

“I can summon you to shore with a single sentence.”

“Ha!  You’re a man of many talents but I struggle to see how that’s—”

“Kaida Asagiri.  I wish to have our sparring match.”

A gasp fled her mouth.  Her head swung in his direction, indignant and in disbelief.  Surely this was a joke?  Surely…

“I said—”

“To name a time and place, to which I will name both.  Today.  Immediately.”

“That’s not what I meant when I—”

“Is the Warrior of Light cowed by the unexpected?  A pity.”

“… This is a cheap trick, Baelsar.”

“You’ll indulge me then?”

“No.  As you can see, I don’t even have my weapon therefore I cannot spar with you at the moment.”

A coy smile and Gaius Baelsar turned away.  Kaida eyes followed him on his ascent back up the stairs, his wordless departure concerning her greatly.  She thought to pursue him but realized that was likely his intention, to lure her from the waters.  And so Kaida remained partially submerged, staring at him until he eventually slipped from view with a puzzled expression and a slightly tilted head.  A few quiet seconds passed her by, listening to the waves as they brushed against the shoreline in tender, hissing roars.  Perhaps too soon did Kaida convince herself that he did not mean to come back.  She drifted back onto her back, eyes closed and cherishing the moment.  It would not last long.

Footsteps in the distance.  Kaida cracked an eye open, spying his return… and what he was carrying.  Her other eye snapped open.

How in the hells…

When Gaius reached the soft sand of the beach, he planted Deathbringer’s tip into the ground.  No words.  A simple lift of his eyes, the subtle curve of his mouth into a smirk—taunting her from the beach.  She felt a smile form on her own lips and she tried her hardest to suppress it.  But it broke through her façade of chagrin and the Raen began towards the shore, nibbling on her lower lip all the while.  She began to pick herself up from the ocean before recalling what she was wearing.  But looking at the way he smugly smirked at her and the glint in his amber eyes, she felt herself pulled along by an unseen hand of fate.  She reached the shallows and rose, water rushing down her mostly naked body.  No eye contact was made but she felt him eyeing her.  The cold of the wind was banished somewhat by the rising heat in her face and neck.

“Should I be concerned that you know how to get into my room?” Kaida said, clearing her throat.

“You forgot to lock the door.”

Her brows rose.

“I did it for you.  And grabbed your key.”

I must not have been thinking when I left…

“And what was your plan if I had locked my door?” Kaida asked, walking towards where her towel lay.  She grabbed it and began to dry herself off.

“To have the innkeeper unlock it for me,” Gaius said plainly.

“I doubt that would have worked,” Kaida scoffed.

“Cid would have gotten me the access I needed.  He is paying for all the rooms, after all,” Gaius replied, his hand dropping from Deathbringer’s hilt.  As Kaida patted herself off, he fished the letters from a pocket within his coat and extended them out to her. 

“If it’s reports from the war, can I chuck them into the ocean?  Would you tattle on me?” Kaida asked him after begrudgingly snatching her mail from him.  “I get a similar pile each day, it seems.”

“A mere side-effect of being a Warrior of Light, I am certain,” Gaius replied and Kaida wrapped the towel around her midsection.  “You’re unconcerned of their contents?”

“If I didn’t get stuff like this each day, it’d be different.  But why did Tataru insist this batch be hand-delivered…” Kaida frowned, sifting through the names on the letters before spying the culprit.

A letter from E-Sumi-Yan sat at the bottom.  The Raen’s brow furrowed.  News from the Padjals?  That was… odd, to say the least.  With a frown on her lips, she thumbed the envelope open and pulled the letter out.  A quick glance was given to Gaius, who stared at her keenly.  Not once did his eyes drop to the contents of the letter even as she unfolded it.  Kaida fought back a shiver as she began reading.

Kaida,

I write to you with a heavy heart.  Three nights ago, a trio of adventurers paid a visit to the Conjurers’ Guild.  I should think their names familiar to you—Avallia Boarsblood, Keen Hawk, and Arnvidar Hellfist.  Former members of the company you once had sworn allegiance to in the days prior to the Calamity.  Between both Avallia and Keen Hawk, they bore Arnvidar into our care.  A grave illness struck him on the road.  Though our best conjurers tried our best to cure him, we could only alleviate his pain as he passed on.

Avallia has informed me that he was a friend of yours in the early days of your adventuring.  I write to you to inform you that he is to be interred in five days’ time.  I know not if this letter will reach the Scions in time.  But it was made known to me that you may wish to attend the funeral.  I understand he was the one who recruited you into your old company and you have my greatest sympathies.  Please do not feel obligated to write back, as I am sure you are busy.  But if you happen to be in the Shroud upon the day of the interment, then your presence would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

E-Sumi-Yan

“Oh.”

A single word fell from her lips.  Arnvidar.  She remembered him.  He was an Ala Mhigan refugee, a pugilist that drank too much ale and had a hearty laugh that rang from the pits of his belly to the back of his throat.  Kaida supposed she had not seen him in years, not since Operation Archon at the least.  Their company, the Roamin’ Wanderin’ Goobbues, had fallen to pieces when their leadership had all died at Carteneau Flats-- casualties of Bahamut’s fury and the descent of Dalamud.  The remnants of the company had all gone their separate ways after.  Some losses had been too great to want to keep going.  That was when Kaida had decided to stay in Gridania.  Being drenched in the blood of the dying had robbed her of wanting to seek out adventures for some time.  Arnvidar had carried on, though, and Kaida suspected it was for coin to drink the bad memories away.  But some things just never disappeared entirely.

“… Not good news, I take it,” Gaius said quietly.

“I… No, it’s not,” Kaida replied, lowering the letter.

“I will not pry,” Gaius reassured her.

“A notice of death,” Kaida said.  “An old friend from a long time ago.”

He remained silent, amber eyes on her.  She did not know what to do, what to say.  The muscles in her chest tightened with grief but there were no tears.  Another dull ache like Haurchefant’s passing.  She felt guilty over it.  Bursting into tears seemed like the natural thing to do.  But this felt only like another thing added to the proverbial pile that burdened her shoulders and heart.

“… My apologies,” Gaius said, voice low.

“It’s fine,” Kaida responded, knowing it really wasn’t but she would have to make it be fine however she could.  “He was sick.  There was nothing anyone could do…”

No response but his gaze softened.

I don’t want to sit here and think about how I wish things could be different.  It’s not going to lead anywhere.  And I suppose I did promise him that match… even if I’m... well, certainly not dressed for it.

“Right, well, I suppose you’ll want that sparring match,” Kaida began.

“No,” Gaius said.  “Taking the sword was only a means to an end.  You’ve other matters to attend to.”

“There’s not much else I can do.  He’s already passed on,” Kaida replied with a small shrug.

“Kaida,” Gaius said.  “I do not doubt your battle prowess.  However, I should think it unfair if I were to fight you as you are… presently dressed.”

“I could put on my armor,” Kaida began.

“That I brought your sword was only to get you to—” Gaius started.

“Gaius,” Kaida cut him off.  The next bit came out without much forethought. “Maybe it’d be good for me.  To spar with you, that is.”

It’s been a miserable day and I could use the exercise.

He gave pause, looking down at her cautiously.  And then he gave a slight nod.  “Very well.  I will meet you outside of the city at the western gate.  I do not want to alarm any of the locals.”

The key was slipped into her hand and in the other, she grasped Deathbringer’s hilt.

“Right… thank you.”

The entire time in her inn room was spent wondering what the hell she was doing.  As she peeled off her wet bathing suit and felt the chill of the room, her mind scrambled.  This felt like playing with fire, having alone time with Gaius Baelsar and knowing the way he made her felt.  It felt dangerous but damn it all, Kaida’s emotions had gotten to the point of apathy.  So what if she liked him?  She was tired and she was hurting in that numb way and she needed to get her mind off of things.  So what if every time he smiled, she felt like she was going to melt?  In a sparring match, she would be too focused on winning to think about his lips or his eyes or his hair or the way he looked without a shirt or...

Vexed, she slung her bathing suit angrily across the bathroom, letting it slap the wall before falling into the wash basin.  The Raen hissed out a breath then grabbed her undershirt, wincing slightly at a bruise from the day prior as she donned her undergarments.  Less thinking, more moving, she told herself.  Gaius was waiting.

She strapped her armor on after she was clothed, tightening her vambraces and boots.  Kaida caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, hair half-wet still and eyes a tad bloodshot.  She tore her gaze from that pitiful reflection.  Deathbringer went into its sheath and away Kaida Asagiri went.

Gaius was exactly where he said he would be, standing just beyond the western gate.  The breeze ruffled through his greying hair, head turned to the sky in a peaceful, wordless contemplation.  His amber eyes snapped to her instantly upon her approach and his body language shifted.  He turned and began further away, no verbal beckoning but Kaida’s feet knew to follow.  She thought about how the last time she had crossed blades with him, it had been at Praetorium.  Hopefully, this did not stir up any awkward memories for him.

Terncliff’s rooftops were the only thing visible by the time Gaius stopped.  He had led her into the highlands, where the golden grass underfoot stretched for malms around them, bathed in the peeking sunlight between clouds.  It would rain, Kaida thought.  The moisture was gathering in the air and she could scent it. 

Heirsbane was loosened from its holster and Gaius held it languidly in one hand, looking it over.

“You’re recovered from yesterday?” he asked.

“Well enough.”

A slight crease in his lips—a frown.  But he gave a thoughtful nod.

“No lethal or severe strikes.”

“You act as though I’ve never sparred before, Baelsar.”

“A reminder.  Though the locals would no doubt be overjoyed at the concept of my head rolling, I should think Allie might be cross with you.”

“And we don’t want that.”

A half-smirk on his lips.

“A problem you alone would have to deal with whilst I rested comfortably in a grave.”

“Oh, I’d make sure you were plenty uncomfortable.  Mayhaps enough to make you haunt me.”

“You’d enjoy that?  My specter following you?”

Crimson in her cheeks, a soft glow against the white of her scales.

“Only for the torment.”

“My torment?  Or yours?” Gaius inquired, a strange but warm levity about his tone.

“Yours, clearly,” Kaida retorted.  “What kind of person do you think I am?  A masochist?”

His brow quirked and the Raen second-guessed her wording.  That… that was the correct term, right?  Someone who enjoyed pain?  Oh kami, she hoped that was the right term…

“Enough banter.  Show me your strength.  I have longed for this moment,” Gaius said to her, that lightness in his voice quickly fading.

There was an edge in his eyes, akin to a predator that had spied its prey.  It sent a thrill down her spine, facing against him.  She pulled Deathbringer out, a calm breath taken in through her nostrils.  Kaida had not realized she had not been nervous until she saw him ready Heirsbane.  At his battle stance, the flood gates of her fears opened.  She had spent the last few years getting stronger but so had he… what happened if he bested her?  Oh gods, wouldn’t that be embarrassing…

He struck like a viper and Kaida just had time to block it.  Their faces were close, his irises lit aflame by the pale azure light of her claymore.  A shove and he moved in for a vertical cut.  Deathbringer was brought sideways to parry, the force of the blow enough to make Kaida physically dig her heels into the dirt.  Her jaw clenched.

He’s powerful.  I knew that much.  But each blow echoes through my body.  He’ll wear me down if I don’t move fast.

Deathbringer was a blur as she swung it.  When it collided with Heirsbane, she knew to pull back and try to dance around Gaius’s blade.  But the Black Wolf was swift; when she went for the next strike, he was already prepped to block her.  The impact was jarring but she recovered quickly, trying to find an opening.  He granted her none.  It would be a test of endurance, she told herself.  Whoever could last the longest without a slip-up would win the match.

Their blades sang with each hit, the sound of metal against metal a horrible melody with an uneven pace.  Kaida could easily see that he could outpace her in speed.  His lighter gear and thinner blade gave him an advantage in that regard but each hit could just as easily be blocked with Deathbringer’s hulking blade.  She told herself just to outlast him.  It would be easy, right?  He was no spring chocobo, after all. 

But that cunning glint in his eye told her that besting him would not be so simple.  And so Kaida threw herself at him in a flurry of swings, changing her strategy to try to overwhelm him.  He backpedaled, taken aback by the sudden aggression.  But his steps were nimble and his sword found its way through Deathbringer’s strikes, clipping just over one of her silver pauldrons.  She swung the flat of her hefty claymore’s blade into his shin and the Wolf gave a grunt. 

“Clever,” he acknowledged as she began to bring the sword around to the back of his neck.  Heirsbane was there to counter it, faster than a bolt from the heavens.  Kaida had not anticipated the sudden parry and was stunned for a moment as the two weapons clashed.  He shoved her blade back, its weight knocking her off-balance.  When Heirsbane went for the follow-through, Kaida stumbled to get Deathbringer up in time to block. 

I could use magic.  But that hardly seems fair.

Their vicious waltz carried on.  Gunblade raking against zweihander.  Heirsbane was a lethal flash of silver.  Deathbringer was a fiery blue blaze.  Over and over, their swords clanged.  Kaida could feel her arms starting to tire, the grass underfoot trampled.  Gaius went for a lunge and the Raen slyly saw her opportunity.  She hit his forearm with the butt of Deathbringer’s hilt.  Heirsbane was knocked from his grasp and Kaida moved in for the final blow.  

Her hand snagged the bandana at his nape, trying to pull him towards her.  She went for a knee to his stomach but his palm enveloped her wrist suddenly.  A half-blink and the Raen felt her grip break.  He turned her wrist over with ease, grip unbearably tight around her gauntlet.  Deathbringer fell from her free hand, knowing a strike from this proximity would violate their rules.  Kaida went to grab him once more but she was falling onto the dirt before she knew it.  Her leg lashed out for his knee, finding its target.  A grunt of surprise signaled his fall.  The Black Wolf was upon her in a moment, grappling with her in the sunlit grass.  They thrashed but it was his size and the advantage of landing atop her that let him easily pin a wrist to the dirt.  As he went for the other wrist, her hand found his throat, the metal of her gauntlet digging into his umber skin.  Gaius’s eyes flared, upper lip curled as his hand chased hers, trying to rip it free.  Jostling him loosened his grasp on her other arm and Kaida saw the opportunity to try to sway him onto his side.  He did not budge as much as she would have liked.  Changing tactics, she threw his head back with a shove then she squirmed her way out from under him as he recovered his balance.  She shot away from Gaius at the first chance, reaching for Deathbringer a few ilms away.  The claymore came up to his nape just as Kaida felt the cold of his gunblade on her throat.  Somewhere in his recovery, he had snagged Heirsbane once more.  And now they sat across from each other, swords at each other’s necks.    

“A draw,” Kaida remarked.

“It would appear so.”

She waited for his next move, staring at how the sweat made his skin glisten under the sunlight.  A distant boom resounded across the coast.  And as Gaius started to lower Heirsbane, Deathbringer was also brought down.

The Raen heaved a sigh and let herself fall onto the grass, resting on her back.  In her armor, it was not as comfortable as she had hoped it would be.  Gaius sat nearby, a pensive look on his usually stern features.  He dusted some dirt from his pants leg and went to tend to his blade. 

“You didn’t use any bullets,” she observed, watching him wipe Heirsbane off.

“And you did not use any magic.”

“I… wanted it to be fair.”

“And bullets would have made it fair?”

“… I suppose not.”

“It was a good fight.”

“Everything you hoped for?”

An amused flicker of a smirk fell onto his features as he unstrapped Heirsbane’s sheath from his back.  The blade slid into it smoothly.  He did not say either way but she could sense he was pleased.  At least for the moment.  Kaida was not sure they could fight any more arduously without risking each other’s’ lives.

“Permit me to buy you a meal,” he said firmly and the Raen blinked in surprise.

“Forward,” she remarked, the word slipping out before she could stop herself.  “I mean… of course.  If you don’t mind the company that will come with it.”

“I am certain I can weather it,” he said, that light amiableness taking back to his voice, giving it a soft purr.  “And perhaps a follow up to our match.  Though another day.  Cid would admonish me if I were to wear you out so.”

“So that was not enough, was it?” Kaida asked.

“You were… as I expected,” Gaius said.  “And yet I will find myself dissatisfied until it is only my blade at your nape and the dirt graced with your knees.”

He wants to win.  He wants to prove something.  Maybe to me.  Maybe to himself.

“I don’t think that day will come any time soon, Wolf,” Kaida commented smugly.

“Mm.  Pride often is echoed by a fall, Dragon.  You would do well to remember that,” he replied, looking down at her.  “What do you want for lunch?”

“Fish?” Kaida asked.  “I presume they have that here in spades.”

“Fish…” the Black Wolf’s expression darkened.

“Are you not a fan?” Kaida asked.

“I am not averse to it,” Gaius reassured her.  “And I do know a place that ought to serve nicely.”

He rose from the ground, offering a hand to her.  She accepted it.  Though their skin was barricaded by layers of clothes and metal, the skin and scales along her nape danced with a prickle.  An insuppressible smile fell on her lips, quiet and thoughtful as he pulled her upright.  Her hand lingered in his for a moment and she swore it was just her perception of time being warped but then she caught a glimpse of his face.  A pensive expression on his lips, pursed as his sunlit eyes rested on her.  Their fingers stayed locked for a few seconds longer than was appropriate, Kaida was certain.  And then they parted, with words feeling too difficult to conjure up.  She scratched the back of her neck vigorously.

I’m a fool…

The sunlight overhead illuminated his face, the wind ruffling through his hair just right.  She stared, blatantly and unashamedly.

… But he is quite handsome.

She did not chastise herself this time for thinking that.

“Lead the way then,” Kaida said and two set off back towards the distant white gates of Terncliff.

Chapter Text

Having lunch with him the second time felt far easier than the first time they had shared a meal together—which Kaida quickly realized was just a few days ago.  The way time passed in Terncliff felt slow and yet like rapid-fire.  The days flashed by but they dragged, making her head spin.  She could hardly remember how many days she had left until she was supposed to make her return to Mor Dhona.  After that… she could not say where they would want to send her next.  Bozja seemed likely; with the resistance there pushing to Zadnor, they would need all the help they could get to keep up the momentum.  But she told herself not to think about that.  Tataru had told her to enjoy the time off, even if it was a productive vacation.

Much as Kaida had predicted, the skies darkened with rain further and further until they were too burdened to carry their load.  Plump and cold raindrops fell to the ground outside of the café they sat in.  She watched them strike against the window, leaning back in her chair.  The sparring match had done some good but she could still feel small vestiges of sorrow in her heart like a fever that never went away.  Kaida was unaware of the troubled sigh passing between her lips until it was already out.  Gaius looked up from his meal, a brow quirking ever so slightly.

“Is aught amiss?” he inquired.

I struggle to think of what ISN’T amiss these days, if I’m totally honest.

“Ahhh no,” Kaida replied.  “Just got wrapped up in thoughts, I suppose.”

“You do that often.”

“Pardon me?”

“Sigh.  You sigh often.”

She felt self-conscious at the comment, looking down at her meal.  Fish with a side of vegetables and rice—the scent was pleasant on the nose and yet she found her appetite fluctuating.  There was so much going on in her head that it was starting to ache. 

“I suppose I do,” Kaida admitted quietly.

“Tis not an easy thing, the task you have chosen,” Gaius continued.  He did not meet her eye, instead delicately sawing into a filet of steak with a knife.  “Yet such is the burden of the strong.  To carry an impossible weight for the benefit of—”

Kaida pointed her fork at him.  “I’m going to have to stop you there.”  She almost added a ‘Baelsar’ at the end of that but the restaurant was not exactly empty and she did not want them to get stared at.  He looked up at her inquisitively and the Raen continued, “I could sense it.  The start of a monologue.”

Teasing him always put a smile back to her face and she had learned over the last hour to embrace that.

His eyes narrowed, knife and fork lowering.  Kaida’s mouth curled into a smirk, stabbing into the fish and shoving a hefty chunk of its flakey white meat into her mouth.

“… It would not have been a monologue,” Gaius grumbled then returned to his food.

“A speech, then.”

“Would that you could hone your blade with that sharp wit.  Mayhaps you would have bested me today.”

“You did not exactly win either.”

“And yet, I did not lose.”

She could grant him that.  As much as she did not want the banter to dwindle on her behalf, she let it.  A soft smile permeated her features, giving a sunny look to them as she ate.  She mulled over the ease that she felt when they conversed, noticing how it gradually deflated the tension that had long haunted her shoulders.  When she caught him staring at her, it made her heart forget how to beat.  It made her veins ignite with a momentary but not unwelcome thrill.  She surrendered to the feeling and the rosiness that took to her cheeks, just beneath her stark white scales.

Yet as soon as she let herself feel the things she had been restraining, she felt a flicker of irritation cross her mind.

I shouldn’t be doing this.  Having lunch with him.  Fueling anything unprofessional.

Kaida stabbed the fork hard into her fish, as if the jarring sensation of the fork hitting the plate would somehow banish her blossoming crush on the Black Wolf.

“The tribunus at Castrum Collinum.  You said you knew him before.  Was he part of the XIVth?” Kaida asked.

Gaius gave pause at the inquiry and she feared she had misstepped somehow.  “No.  He was a… friend.  Outside of the military.  I met him many years ago.  He led a different life then.  I suppose you could say I guided him from one path to another.  Unfortunate, in hindsight, that he listened to me.”

“You did what you thought was best at the time,” Kaida said carefully.  “This may surprise you… Shadowhunter… but there are things even outside of your control.  At the end of it all, his path is his path.  I can only hope it gets better from here.”

He looked as though he had a reply but something drew his attention elsewhere.  She heard the sound of a linkpearl chime and Gaius drew one from his pocket, putting it to his ear.  At the sound of a muffled voice on the other side, his eyes locked with hers.  She narrowed her gaze slightly, leaning in to try to hear what was being said.

“Good news indeed,” Gaius replied after a moment.  “Ah… Kaida?  N-no, I know not her location…”

Their eyes met again.  Kaida could not suppress an amused smile, even as she tried to stifle it by shoving a forkful of fish into her mouth.

“… Certainly.  I will inform her that we are to resume testing tonight.  I am sure she will not oppose.  Very well.  Thank you, Cid.”  And then the call was ended and the linkpearl put back into Gaius’s pocket.  “Shall I summarize?”

“They fixed the G-Savior,” Kaida said and Gaius nodded.

“Yes.  They wish for me to locate you and inform you that we will be proceeding with the test this evening.”

“So much for a day off,” Kaida remarked with a sigh but mustered up a smile.  “But I suppose it’s better this way—keeping busy.”

“And there are plenty hours left to enjoy before we are expected,” Gaius said calmly.

They finished their meal, Gaius paying for it before Kaida could even get her gil from her pocket.  She glared at him as the waiter happily accepted it and a gracious tip—no doubt incentive to keep whatever he had heard them discussing to himself.  Kaida’s fingers drummed an unsteady beat on the table top as the waiter departed.

“You should really stop doing that,” said the Raen with a ‘tsk’.  “It’s not as though you’re made of money.”

“I may have lost my assets when I forfeited my rank but do not mistake my garb for that of a penniless man’s,” Gaius chided.

Kaida frowned slightly.  There was a thought she had never considered before—how had Gaius gotten so much gil after losing virtually everything after Operation Archon?  She studied his face for a moment, tapping her chin with her index finger.

“How have you been getting money?” she asked.  “It occurs to me that hunting Ascians pays very little.  If anything at all.”

Gaius was pensive at the question, taking a long drink from his water glass.  And then came his confession.  “I may have taken leaf from a certain Little Dragon’s book.”

Kaida’s eyes narrowed slightly.  “You did… adventuring work?”

“You sound surprised,” Gaius said with a rumbling, amused chuckle.

“I am,” Kaida said, leaning back with a blink.  “I suppose I didn’t think much of what you had been doing in the time between then and now…”

Kami above, imagine him walking into one of the Adventurer’s guilds… turning every head in the damn tavern with his third eye and.... And cheekbones.  But Kaida did not want to admit that to herself.  She sipped her water aggressively.  It’s a wonder I didn’t miss him when I was out and about doing Scion work… Not that I would’ve known who he was.  That’s how he managed it, I’ll bet.  No one on the Gridanian side of Baelsar’s Wall had ever seen his face…

“So, what, are you telling me you walked into one of the guild halls and introduced yourself as Shadowhunter?” Kaida asked. “And they were just… fine with that!?”

“… Again, you seem surprised.”

“They didn’t question that name at all!?”

“Kaida,” Gaius stared at her.  “I should think I am hardly the first to adopt such a moniker.  Adventuring work suited the three of us, when we were desperate for gil.  I will admit that was more often than I liked but such is the way of things.  Keeping roads safe from bandits and ne’er-do-wells was but a trivial task for the reward given.”

“I’m trying to imagine you waltzing up to Mother Miounne for work and not raising suspicion,” Kaida remarked.

“T’was easier than I think you suspect,” Gaius said.  “And it was Baderon that signed my paperwork.”

“He was likely drunk,” Kaida nodded.  “That’s the only way I can see that happening.”

“The boats of Limsa Lominsa bring all manner of folk to its docks.  Garleans are not entirely a strange sight on their shores,” Gaius replied, rising from his seat.  As if on cue, a couple nearby shot him a strange, accusing look.  Kaida tried to ignore it, just as Gaius did.  He continued, “And people care little who gets rid of their problems, so long as the problems are gotten rid of.”

She supposed he was right.

The duo departed the seaside café with the wind billowing through the trees, bringing the scent of the ocean with it.  Thankfully, the rain had ceased and the sun was starting to peek at her between the clouds.  Kaida stopped to inhale the scent of salt and water, cherishing it for a split second before being reminded of Aika’s letter.  Her expression fell as she looked back over her shoulder, towards the horizon that led to Othard.  So many leagues away and yet her heart called to it, despite knowing better…

“You stare often at the ocean,” Gaius remarked as they walked the pleasant white stone streets of Terncliff, winding their way back towards the inn.

“You seem to take note of my mannerisms often, Wolf,” Kaida commented, turning her gaze to him.  He said nothing in return.  She felt it was a small victory.  “The blue water used to be the sky every night for me.  You… should’ve seen my face the first time I swam to the surface.  I had never seen anything like it.  It was nighttime—the only way I could sneak past the guards.  My head broke through the waves and I looked up to see a sky full of stars.”

“You snuck out often as a child?” Gaius asked.

“I was rebellious,” Kaida replied with a nod.  “My grandmother hated it.  My father talked often of the surface and I wanted to know the world he had come from.  He was born on the Steppe, where it feels like there’s nothing but you and the sky.  It was a different world from Ao-no-Sato.  He used to tell us all sorts of stories about things you wouldn’t think were a huge deal.  Birds… grass… the sky and everything in it…”

“I cannot imagine a world without the sky as I know it,” Gaius commented quietly, lifting his gaze to it. 

“The openness scared me.  It was like the ocean but so much more,” Kaida admitted.  “I think about going back, sometimes.  Not forever.  Just to… see.”

See what?  If anything’s changed?  I already know the answer. 

“… You are unable to return, I understand,” Gaius said carefully and she nodded.

“Socially speaking, yes,” Kaida nodded.

“You want to, though,” Gaius observed.

“Tell me something, Baelsar,” Kaida said, the breeze picking up slightly.  “Does a part of you long for the times before?  Even if you know they were bad?”

He studied her for a moment before dipping his head in confirmation.  

“I have not seen my parents since I was sixteen summers old,” Kaida continued.  “I wonder what they think of their daughter being a Warrior of Light.”

 “Surely, they are proud.”

“Most parents would be.  Mine are not like most parents.”

He frowned.  “You scarcely need a reminder from me that blood matters little in the end.”

“Oh sure,” Kaida replied.  “The Scions and other Warriors of Light are more my family than my actual family at this point.  But sometimes, I…” The words died in her throat.  What in the hells was she doing, telling him all of this?  As if he cared so much?  She felt as though she had spoiled a perfectly good walk with her dreariness.  The Raen gave a huff, arms crossing over her chest. 

“Forget it.  I’m rambling again,” she concluded, looking up to see their inn come into view. 

His eyes were on her.  She felt them, dissecting every bit about her expression.  Kaida would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how bothered she was.  It was likely a futile fight but she would be damned if he detected that weakness in her.  His hand found the doorknob before hers did, opening it for her.  She stepped in with a soft ‘thanks’—volume just above a whisper. 

“I must leave you here,” Gaius said to her as they entered the lobby and what nostalgic, bitter thoughts she was stewing on were swiftly dispersed.  “There is a matter I must look into.  I will see you this evening, Lady Asagiri… Kaida.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving her eyes to chase after him as he carried on down the hall.  She went to her room, opening the door and nudging it shut behind her with her heel.  A sigh and she thought about the words she had cut off, letting them drift through her mind like a confession.

But sometimes, I want to go back and see for myself if they had missed me at all.

When he entered the suite, he saw Allie coming down the short hall—dressed from head to toe in her finest casual wear.  Slim-fit pants with the cuffs rolled up, the fabric a light blue with the faintest vertical lines.  A loose-fit blouse, pastel violet and slightly low-cut, revealing a necklace about her nape that Gaius had never seen before.  It looked like a locket.  Her eyes widened at his approach, bag tucked under her arm.  She was planning to go out, it seemed.  Though remiss to interrupt her plans, he could not allow her to leave just yet—not without first asking the question that had been on his mind since returning from Castrum Collinum.  Gaius’s gaze hardened and she paused at the far end of the living room. 

“What is it, Father?” Allie asked quietly, reading the severity in his face.

“Where are you off to?” He asked.

“Oh.  I had some plans with Avilina this afternoon,” Allie answered.

“A talk before you go,” he said then gestured to the couch.

He was never good at these things—being a father, having these serious talks.  Once, Midas had told him he would be great at it, but Gaius was certain that had been wishful thinking.  Midas had seen a lot in him.  Enough to make Gaius into Cid’s guardian in the event of something happening to him.

“… Am I in trouble?” Allie asked, the nervousness spiking in her voice.  It tore at his heartstrings.  He wondered what she was remembering.

“No,” His tone softened.

They both sat on the couch with Gaius drawing in a breath as he tried to navigate the best way to broach her about Cassius.  Direct was his knee-jerk reaction; a lingering trait from the military.  Allie needed a more tender approach.  She was still recovering mentally from losing her siblings and from the abuse Valens had put her through.  But the Wolf was not the best with words, not in situations like this.  He labored on what he wanted to say before deciding to approach it in a gentle, but not indirect fashion.

“I went to Castrum Collinum to ensure that all had been destroyed,” Gaius said to her calmly.  “While I was there, I encountered Cassius.”

“Oh,” Allie whispered, looking down at her knees.

“You did not tell me of his part in the VIIth Legion,” Gaius added stiffly.  It was supposed to come out soft but his voice had difficulties with such tones when he strived for them.

“I…” Allie swallowed.  She was freezing up, losing herself in a memory.  Gaius tried to pull her from it, putting a hand on her shoulder to anchor her in the moment.  She swallowed again then nodded.  “I was not sure how you would react.  You… you didn’t… kill him… did you?”

“No,” Gaius said.  “He fled.”

“Good,” she replied softly, hands squeezing each other.  His hand moved from her shoulder to atop of them, enveloping them with his warmth.  “He wasn’t allowed to see us.  Valens—” A small hitch in her breath at his name.  “… Didn’t permit him to.  He would send him away often.  To put down rebellions.”

“Did he contribute to the Weapon Project?” Gaius asked.

“He was brought in later, after it had begun.  We were already trained.  When he saw who the pilots were…” Allie’s hands trembled under Gaius’s.  “He tried to help us.  But there was nothing he could do.  Valens… Valens had something on him, I think.  Something that made him toe the line as best as he could.  We were not allowed to talk to him.”

“I see,” Gaius said, giving her clasped hands a squeeze. 

Then it is not as I feared.  He did not try to take his anger towards me out on them.  He tried to save them as best as he could… or so it would seem.  I suppose only he knows the answer to that now.

“Marilla and Valentina…” Allie began and Gaius perked at the sounds of their names.  “I don’t know what happened to them.  Cassius could not tell us.  But the look in his eye, I… I know it was nothing good, Father.  I’m sorry…”

He could hear her voice start to fray, breath tightening.

“You need not say anything more,” Gaius said quietly and she leaned into him.  Her breathing became small sobs and his guilt tripled.  His arm went around her, pulling her in so her tears could stain his overcoat. 

“You’re sure, Father… you’re sure he’s dead…?” Allie whispered.

She shook like he had never seen before, face buried into the leather of his collar.  Hands gripped onto him as though she were lost at sea and he was a piece of driftwood.  His heart ached over her hurt, feeling helpless.  And he condemned himself for his stupidity.  Of course his wards would have suffered in his absence.  They had accused him of murdering the Emperor.  And they had been left in prime positions to be abused over it.

“Yes,” came the Black Wolf’s answer.

“Good…” Allie whispered.

They sat on the couch for some time, held in a soft embrace.  His chin rested atop her head.  He listened to the sound of her breath, how the shakiness began to calm down with time.  Her grip on him loosened.  And when she was ready, she pulled away, rubbing away the tearstains from her cheeks. 

“I-I’m sorry—” she began.

“No.  The fault is mine,” he said.  “It is not a light subject and still fresh.  I… hope I have not made you late to your plans.”

“You have but I forgive you,” Allie said with a weak smile, glancing to the nearby clock.  “And Avilina will too… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“It is fine,” Gaius said calmly.  “I ought to have picked a better time to discuss this with you but I was overeager.  Go, enjoy your afternoon, Allie.”

She gave a sniffle then mustered up a smile for him.  “I will.  See you this evening, Father.”

And with that, she was out the door.  He watched her go before hissing out a curse at himself for upsetting her so.  So much for a tender approach.  So much for being delicate.  Midas’s words of him being a good father mocked him from beyond his empty grave.  Gaius’s teeth gnashed as he raked through his hair with his fingers, amber eyes wandering momentarily to the clock.  Three hours until he was to reconvene with Kaida.  He sighed and leaned his head back onto the top of the couch.  There was so much time to ponder over things he did not want to ponder over.  But ever the glutton for self-punishment, the Black Wolf closed his eyes and did so anyways.  Gaius told himself he would make it up to Allie.  He would always be making it up to her—that was his charge now.  They only had each other, after all.  And that thought reminded him of something Kaida had said just a few days ago, her words ringing in his head.

“Tell me you wouldn’t stroll up to your own execution, Gaius Baelsar.  Tell me you wouldn’t leave your daughter alone like that.”

A frown crossed his lips.  He had been willing to pay whatever punishment the Werlytians had in store for him for so long.  But it seemed it would not be coming yet; perhaps not until they had run out of uses for him.  The more he stewed on Kaida’s words and the way his daughter had crumbled at the mere sound of Valens’s name, the more the Wolf began to second-guess how willing he should be to submit to the executioner’s axe.  On one hand, he knew it was the just prize.  On the other, he knew he needed to live for Allie.  As much as he had worked to establish a home for her in Terncliff, it would be hollow without him.  It was a thought that sounded arrogant but Gaius knew Allie could not stay in this place if the locals had been the one to claim his head.  Terncliff would be too painful for her and all that he had strived to build for her would be for naught.

He sighed.  More vexed this time.  What a conundrum.  He supposed all there was left to do was to roll with whatever life dealt next.  But one thing he did know was that there was a newfound reason to live in his heart.  And he felt like a fool for thinking otherwise before.

Kaida was to thank for that.  Which, as that thought crossed his mind, his brow furrowed.  Half the time, Kaida Asagiri was a mystery.  The other half the time, she was as transparent as glass.  It made each encounter with her interesting—noting the things she said with her mouth and the things her eyes subtly said too.  He mulled over his fight with her, how parts of his body still ached from it.  He thought about how a part of him, savage and barbaric, wanted to duel her again.  Never satisfied, hungering for that victory that was within his grasp.

He was not sure what he wanted more – to lock lips with her in a thinly-veiled fit of lust or to cross blades with her, fighting until they were both spent.  Gaius reflected on the sight of his blade at her nape.  The steady heave of her chest, the alarm and anger in her eyes, dark teal hair slightly ruffled.  It was the most beautiful she had ever been to him, in the aftermath of that fight.  Most would have admonished themselves for such feelings but Gaius did not.  He would not shy from his own thoughts, even if he knew politically to engage in such an affair was nothing short of insanity.  But Gaius was a man who too often flew too close to the sun.  And though just days before, he had adamantly told himself he would not pursue her, his unwillingness to do so was rapidly fading.  Perhaps it was lust.  Perhaps it was intrigue.  Perhaps it was a bit of both.

Logic continued to tell him no but unfortunately for logic, emotion was the far stronger force.  Gaius knew he wanted Kaida; he had known for years now.  But the fact remained that everything he touched was afflicted by his presence.  And he feared she would be no different.

He had been in several relationships over the course of his life.  Midas had been the first.  They had planned a future together.  Gaius had even signed the paperwork to formally adopt Cid, though Gaius knew not what had happened to that paperwork.  Midas had become enthralled at that point, their relationship functionally over.  But Gaius had hoped he was just seeing things when Midas began to change.  And then the Bozja Incident happened.  Cassius came into his life around then—the pale blue of his eyes had reminded Gaius of Midas and that had made him feel sentimental.  Then Valentina, after seeing her perform at the opera house.  She had been a playful tease and Gaius could not resist her game.  And after that, Marilla—a chance meeting one day.  Marilla was an activist and had thought to catch his ear with her grand ideas about the Empire.  She had caught his lips instead.

Gaius had enjoyed the polycule for what it was.  Shameless debauchery with a side of feelings—they had all been lonely, hurting hearts in their own ways and he had a big mansion.  It had made sense at the time and he did not regret it.  But it was not like it had been with Midas.  And now it was gone, too.  Another chapter of his life turned to ash and all Gaius could do was watch it scatter into the winds.  Cassius’s wounded look lingered in his mind.  He could envision that same look on Kaida’s face and it dampened his fantasies of them together.  But the Wolf could not deny his wants nor his nature.  It was his greatest vice and he was condemned to suffer for it.  Yet there was naught else to do.  He damned himself to the pyre and prayed if they all burned for it, it would at least be a pretty sight.  It was all he could ask for at this rate.

A knock on the door came in the evening.  Kaida answered it, surprised to see Gaius standing there.  He seemed equally as surprised to see her, eyes flashing wide.  And then he composed himself, posture straightening.

“I thought perhaps we could go to the hanger together,” said Gaius Baelsar, a funniness about his tone.

Kaida blinked up at him then nodded, moving aside to let him in while she finished wrapping things up before the training.  That strangeness in his voice—it was stiffer than normal, as if it had been recited.  She did not know what that meant but suddenly seeing him there had sent a surge in her heartrate.  Kaida hastily kicked some errant pieces of clothes under the bed before he could notice them (she hoped, at the least).  Deathbringer was slung under the bed as well in its holster, and then she began getting her shoes on.

“Sorry, I uh… I was not expecting—” Kaida apologized as she forced her leg into the knee-high boot, awkwardly stubbing her toe in the process.

“You need not apologize, I could have… made it known to you that I was coming by to… walk you there,” Gaius replied quickly, watching her hop about on one foot as she tugged her boots on.  She teetered, nearly falling into the wall.  He stared at her.  Kaida felt a heat in her face—fiercer than Ifrit’s flames.

“I-it’s all right!” Kaida said quickly, thanking the kami and Twelve both that her second boot was much more cooperative than the first.  She grabbed her room key, some gil, and her linkpearl.  “Ready when you are, Wolf.”

They departed the room and she locked the door behind her.  Night had fallen across Terncliff in a velvety blue-black blanket, the very last sliver of twilight illuminating the distant horizon.  Stars glittered overhead, their splendor semi-banished by the town’s lanterns.  Kaida and Gaius made their way together.  The night breeze did wonders to drive off the blush that had infected her cheeks.  It brought coolness that felt good against her skin.

“Do you suppose they’ll want us to do the same test as last time?” Kaida asked.

“I imagine so,” Gaius replied.  “You will not press the engines into overdrive, I hope.  You have learned your lesson?”

“Look,” Kaida huffed at him.  “That the engines could be so easily disrupted is a flaw in the system.  And since we’re here to test those systems, I was simply doing my job.”

“I should think Nero and Cid might disagree.”

“They’re too busy bickering at each other to disagree.”

“That may be true.”

The hanger doors were opened when they arrived, the G-Savior already standing at the ready for departure.  Cid and Nero stood before it and Kaida could not tell if they were exhausted or elated or perhaps a mixture of both.  At Gaius and Kaida’s approach, they both turned to face them and the Raen could easily see how their sclera ran with spiderlike blood vessels.  She flinched, trying to mask her small gasp at their haggard appearances.  They bore similar expressions as they had before the last trial, though somehow exaggerated even further. 

“Ah, so they arrive together!” Nero remarked, glancing at them both from above his sunglasses.  “Ready for a full evening, I hope.”

“Of course,” said Gaius.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Cid greeted them.  “We were able to get things done faster than I had anticipated.  And since we don’t have Kaida here forever, I wanted to make use of what time we do have.”

“Understood,” Kaida replied.  “Shall we get the show on the road, then?”

“Yes,” Cid nodded.  “I don’t want to delay this any longer.  I don’t think I know the last time I slept properly in my bed.”

“Cid…” Kaida began in warning.

“Oh, I’ll hear none of it from you, Miss Mother Hen.  Go on, get dressed,” Cid sighed and the two of them left to do just that inside the Ironwork’s base.

Gaius started stripping his coat off the moment the locker room door was shut behind him.  Kaida had the advantage of being behind him but the disadvantage of being rooted to the spot.  She stared openly as the shirt came off next, the muscles of his back rippling under the blaring overhead lights.  They were closer in proximity than the last time she had seen him like this.  Close enough that she could see things on his body.  The occasional mole dotted him but it was the scars that drew her attention.  She let her eyes trace them, trying to identify their origins.  Some looked like they had come from blades.  Others looked magic-related.

He caught her stare and Kaida’s brows arched in guilt.

“Now, now, champion,” he said, voice a purr of amusement.  “I should think one of your social standing knows better than to stare.”

Fuck.

“I just…” Kaida fumbled.  “You just… really started stripping in front of me, Wolf, what am I supposed to do?”

“Change into your uniform, ideally,” Gaius said, reaching into her locker and drawing her pilot’s attire out.  “Though, judging from the last two times we have been in here together, you seem to have a changing ritual that involves being red in the face.”

FUCK.

It was a tease but it dismantled her.  Her hand seized the uniform from him, snatching it and bringing it close to her chest.  He looked down at her, his bare chest and stomach easily catching her attention.  They, too, had scars—though time had done much to fade them against his umber skin.  She wondered how many of them were from Praetorium and the explosions afterwards.  Her gaze eventually drew up to the not-so-subtle curl of his lips. 

He was enjoying this—tormenting her.  She could not believe this… except she could believe it.  He had that way of prodding her.  Finding her buttons and pressing them.  She hated it.  She hated being so readable.  It was infuriating but as she searched through her feelings, Kaida realized she could not even say she was mad.  Just embarrassed, hugging her uniform to her chest.  She grappled for a response.

“W-well, if I were to start stripping in front of you, wouldn’t you stare?” Kaida accused.

“Would you wish for me to?” Gaius asked, leaning in slightly.

“I’m… I’m just trying to prove my point,” Kaida said.  By the fucking kami, it was hot in there.  Or was it just her?  “Answer the question.”

“Answer mine.” His voice was a growl.  She would not let it dissuade her.  Not even as it made her skin tingle and her knees feel a bit more vulnerable than normal.

“Ridiculous,” she accused once more before fleeing into the changing room.  The reprieve from his pressing look gave her enough time to gather herself, even as her mind played over and over again the image of his naked torso.  Doman curses hissed quietly from her mouth.  And then a few deep breaths later and she emerged, thankful that Gaius was suited up.

“Apologies for riling you, champion,” he said respectfully.  As if he meant it.  Kaida knew better.

“Is this another attempt to get me to spar you, Baelsar?  You could’ve asked in the conventional sense.”

“No.  But you may consider me interested in crossing blades with you once more.”

“Hoping to win this time?”

“That is the goal, yes.”

“Hoping or winning?  Those are different things.”

“You understand my meaning, champion.”

But did she though?  Her emerald irises glinted like stars, a twist on her lips.  She wished she wasn’t smiling but she could not help it.  She pushed her clothes into the locker and looked at him, keeping her gaze steady at his eyes.  A quip was on her tongue but she lost it in the clash of their stares.  A nonverbal challenge.  He leaned in slightly once more, arms crossed.  That smirk became more prominent on his sharp features.  She closed the locker door, breaking away from it.  It felt hot in the room again and they had wasted too much time bantering.

“Let’s go.  Cid and Nero are waiting.”          

They made their return to the hanger and Kaida waited for Nero’s inevitable snark.  It thankfully did not come; he was too busy scanning over some form of report to notice them as they began towards the catwalk.  The G-Savior looked the same as it had the last time they had done the test run.  The walkway to access the cockpit was taken at a steady pace.  Kaida could tell Gaius was keenly inspecting the warmachina.  She did not mind it; not until he paused his climb entirely to squint at some modifications.  Kaida nearly collided into his back, craning her neck up at him.

“Oh come on.  You’ll get a closer look when you’re inside.”

He said nothing, a smirk on his lips as he ascended the steps and made his way to the G-Savior’s head.  “Nero’s work from the Ultima Weapon is shining through.  I can tell he has revised some of the torso plating.  There are panels that will unleash magitek bits, I would presume.”

“I suppose that’ll be on my set of controls,” Kaida remarked as they walked across the ramp to the cockpit.

Once more, Gaius stepped in and offered her his hand.  She took it, trying to ignore how their skin felt against each other.  After entering the cockpit, she made her way to her chair behind the pilot’s one, looking at the revamped dashboard.  Gaius took the front chair and the cockpit sealed itself.  The holographic screens brimmed into existence nearby, displaying Nero’s face.

“Now, I will go over a quick summary of the updates,” Nero said.  “We have recalibrated the engines so that usage from the heavier artillery will not draw power from them.  This is important as this is the reason for engine failure the last time we met.  An unfortunate occurrence.  We have additionally seen to revising the Alpha Cannon.  It now comes in two forms—a single beam from the chest of the warmachina and a flurry that can launched from long range.  You have a button next to your right-hand radar that can toggle the modes.  Additionally, you can use the radar to indicate where you would like the flurry to land.  It is, in fact, touch screen.  You may save your applause for later.  Side panels have been attached to the G-Savior’s ribcage.  We rerouted wiring and placed compartments that can store magitek bits.  Kaida will have control of those as well.  They can be ordered on the left-hand side panel to gather around a target or line up to open fire.  The Aethersaber remains virtually unchanged as does the armor plating restoration function.”

“How the hell did you manage all of these upgrades?” Kaida asked.

“My dear, you may be a Warrior of Light and arguably one of the strongest people on this planet.  However, nothing can compare to a team of engineers and a bottomless supply of coffee,” Nero said sweetly.

“Right,” Kaida said, unimpressed.

“If you’re clear on everything, then I would like to go ahead and launch.  We have adjusted the testing nodes slightly in response to the upgrades made to the G-Savior,” Cid chimed in from behind Nero.  “Do your best and I think we can be done in an hour!”

The launch sequence was initiated soon after.  Kaida leaned back in her chair, bracing for the rush of the engines as they took off.  She gripped her handrests as it happened, the warmachina propelling from the hanger and into the blooming night sky.  From the second seat, it was harder to see everything above them.  But as Kaida tilted her head back, she took in the as much as she could of the stars as Terncliff faded behind them.  Above, the cosmos glistened like diamonds trapped in black pitch. 

She thought of the story she had told Gaius earlier, the time when she had first seen the sky.  It looked so similar to sight before her, a cloudless and pure evening.  The moon was but a crescent sliver, not dominating the heavens with its pale glow.  She leaned forward in her chair, trying to get a better look at it all without bumping into her copilot.  Something about the sky made her feel so nostalgic, as though the sight of it could pull her into a waking reverie.

The G-Savior slowed slightly, coasting over the waves.  Kaida noticed Gaius looking at her from her peripherals.  He plugged in something on his side of the dashboard, then rested back.  The warmachina continued its trajectory and he let his hands fall to his sides.  He unfastened his seatbelt and scooted over.  The chair was big, even compared to him.  Kaida cocked her head in confusion.

“Sit,” he bade her, gesturing to the spot in the chair he had opened up.

“Why…?” Kaida asked.

“The view is better from here.”

Kaida Asagiri did not think twice.  She unbuckled her seatbelt and sidled in next to him, turning her gaze back to the stars.  There was a better view from his chair; she was right.  Their bodies pressed against each other, the seat cramped.  But she found herself not caring, not even haunted by a blush or that strange tingling feeling that so often rose up her spine.  She was transfixed by the heavens, where the stars met an infinite darkness.  It was gorgeous; the prettiest sky she had seen in a long while.  The only noise around them was the whir of the G-Savior’s engines.  All else had fallen still and quiet.  It was a serenity that touched down into her soul, reverent and meaningful.

They locked eyes.  She did not feel the things she normally felt.  No apprehension.  No nervousness.  Her mind was empty of the thoughts that so often plagued her.  She blinked.  They were closer somehow.  She did not know how it happened, their faces so close.  Time slowed its course.  Her eyes flitted up and down his face, before focusing on his mouth.  Her heartbeat was loud against her horns.  At some point, his arm had gone around her—so subtle she had never noticed it until it pressed into her back gently, warming it.  The other hand was lifting, drawing near her cheek.

What am I doing? she asked herself, thoughts racing faster and faster as they seemed to draw ever closer together.  She was scared he would hear her heartbeat; it was nearly deafening in the silence, drowning out the G-Savior.  What am I…?

And then the camera activated next to them, flashing with bright light that startled both pilots.  Kaida all but fell face-first into Gaius’s side.  The Garlean jolted upright, clearly rattled.  Nero stared at them, brows arched and mouth slightly agape in confusion.  Kaida sank down into the chair, trying to hide her face.

“Is there… a problem with your seat?” Nero asked her.

Did he see that? She asked herself fearfully.

“N-no…” Kaida swallowed.

“The stars.  She just wanted to see the stars,” Gaius said.

Had she not been familiar with his normal tone, she might have not noticed the small quiver in it.  But she knew him better than that.  She could hear his alarm.  And still borderline dizzy from the surprise, Kaida retreated to her chair, strapping it and praying to every god that Nero had not seen what was happening. 

“Right…” Nero blinked.  He cleared his throat.  It sounded like there was a stifled chuckle hidden somewhere in there.  “… You’re now approaching the test site.  The nodes are activating as we speak.  Your goal is once more to destroy the sphere.  Best of luck to you both.”

And with that, Nero’s face vanished and the two were left in a tense silence.

“Well,” Gaius said after a moment, the sound of his voice enough to make Kaida want nothing more than to crawl under her chair and hide there for the next decade.  “The coordinates say we are a malm out from our destination.”

She was still robbed of her words and so she only gave a nod in reply, knowing with his back turned that he could not see it.  Still, he continued, his next words invoking a different sense of nostalgia.

“Let us dance, then, champion.”

Chapter Text

Roughhousing was never permitted.  Not outside and especially not inside.  But Kaida and Aika were young and children often did what their hearts pulled them towards.  They tried to keep the pitter-patter of their feet quiet as they darted down the hallways of their family’s estate.  Giggles only vaguely stifled, made into hissing laughter that was partially spurred by the fact they were expected to be silent.  It was Aika who chased Kaida, darting through the corridor with reckless abandon.  Paintings and décor lined the walls.  All items of great value, keepsakes of their family.  But the kids cared little for them and more for their game.

As Aika collided into her sister gleefully, Kaida’s shoulder clipped a nearby credenza.  A vase atop it wobbled and then spilled onto the ground, its white body shattering into countless pieces with Kaida laying among their strewn fragments.  A gasp tore from Aika’s mouth.  And Kaida recoiled at the sound of footsteps hurriedly coming their way.

She prayed it was their father, not their mother.  Neither came through the door.  Instead, charged in Kaida’s grandmother, red in the face already and enraged.  Aghast at the sight of the broken vase, she pulled one of her old, scaled arms back to partially muffle the sound of her indignant screech. 

“By the kami, what have you done!?” screamed Chiyo Asagiri, matriarch of their family but naught more than a silver-haired witch in Kaida’s eyes.  The elder’s focus was directed immediately to the fallen Kaida.  Somewhere in the background, Aika began to retreat in small-measured steps. 

“It… it was an accident!” Kaida began.

“That was a priceless treasure from the days before our clan emigrated from Doma!” Chiyo said, falling melodramatically to her knees and seizing one of the shards between her fingers.  She turned it over in horror then looked again to Kaida.  “And you have ruined it!”

The moments that followed were a blur.  Chiyo’s nailed fingers wrapped their way around Kaida’s wrist and soon found Aika’s as well.  She pulled them both along towards the entryway to their home and then past the front door. 

“I keep telling your parents to discipline the both of you proper and yet I see it must fall to me to ensure that it happens!” Her grip was vicelike, despite Kaida’s protests.  Aika was already sobbing, dragged into the sand outside as Chiyo marched onward.

Beyond the estate was their yard, gated by crimson fencing.  The ocean stretched above them, an azure sky that severed them all from the sky proper.  Sunlight filtered down but felt forever away.  And the young Kaida looked to it for a sign as her cruel grandmother dragged them both towards the small shrine that sat a few yalms away.  It was made to venerate the kami, to beg them for blessings and wards from evil.  And as they stepped under its roof, Chiyo all but threw the both of them to the ground.  Aika was a weeping mess and Kaida trembled on the stone floor. 

Chiyo’s finger dragged from the twins to a stone resting at the back of the shrine.  It was a slab of rock in which the symbols of suijin—the water kami—had been carved into.  Kaida knew this place well.  Once a week did her mother take her here to pray.  She had been told that through this prayer they would all be blessed.  They would all be cared for.  They would all be safe.

“Know you the story of the Blue Village?” Chiyo asked them.  They both nodded.  Chiyo did not seem to take notice.  “We are able to dwell here only on the blessing of the water kami, the Great Suijin.  It is their kindness which keeps the great bubble around our village from bursting, crushing us with the weight of the water over our heads!  Drowning us!  And the Great Suijin has made it clear that their rules must be tolerated!  By all!  Lest we suffer a horrible death!”

Aika grabbed onto Kaida’s sleeve and Kaida clung to her twin, looking up at their raving grandmother.

“That vase in which you have broken was a token of fortune gifted to our ancestors from the kami!  And to think such ungrateful hands broke it…” Chiyo seethed as she walked over to an urn nearby.  She unlidded it, scooping her gnarled fingers inside and grabbing a sparkling form of dust from within.  Kaida watched as the elder palmed the dust then marched over, throwing it angrily upon the two girls.  She closed her eyes, flinching as the dust fell upon her. 

“Such impertinence will be our downfall if you do not understand the value of why we must live the way we do,” Chiyo continued, grabbing more dust and throwing it upon them.  “O great spirits of water, please forgive these foolish children.  They did not intend such disrespect in their ignorance.  Please do not let the offense they have made speak for the good hearts of the people of Ao-no-Sato.  Please, I beg your forgiveness…”

The mantra continued, more dust flung upon the children.  Kaida felt it prickle into her nostrils and covered her face the next time Chiyo tossed a handful onto them.  Aika buried her face into her sister’s chest and Kaida’s fingernails dug into the cloth of Aika’s kimono.  She closed her eyes, waiting for it to end, listening to the matriarch’s creaking words.

“You are bad children.  Cruel children.  Your cruelty must be purged if you are to live here, in harmony.”

More dust, hitting Kaida’s horn and scattering over her hair.  Aika wailed and Kaida could feel her own tears forming.

“If you do not change your terrible ways, you will kill us all.”

Fear unlike any other gripped her heart.  Were the kami truly that evil?  Would they really drown them all?  Would they crush them all? 

“Do you understand that, Aika Asagiri?  Kaida Asagiri?  You are bad.  Bad children!  Bad!”

It was spat out venomously, so malicious that Kaida felt her heart ache at the words.  Tears trailed down the sides of her face, which had become dirtied from the dust flung at her. 

“Chiyo.”

A voice.  A savior.  Kaida opened her eyes, feeling the grit on her eyelids and cheeks.  She saw her father in the shrine’s threshold, a towering figure bearing down at shriveled Chiyo with stern violet eyes. 

“That is enough, Chiyo; they have learned their lesson,” said their father, Sadao, a man of impressive height and calm nature.  He bore small black horns next to his curved white ones and long, dark brown hair that cascaded down his back. 

“Would that I could share your optimism, Sadao,” Chiyo said icily.  “They broke a treasure from the days before the Great Exodus.  A grievous offense to the kami, I am certain.”

 Sadao looked at her then at his children.  “They seem remorseful.”

“A proper penitence would have me chide them until the next bell rings from the tower in the village,” Chiyo pointed out.

“I should think that unnecessary.”

“Tch.  As former High Priestess, I must disagree.  They are wild in nature, these petulant children.  No doubt influenced by their wild Xaelic blood,” Chiyo retorted.  Kaida could see Sadao’s nose give the slightest crinkle of disdain but Chiyo continued on with her venomous ranting, “Begone, Sadao.  I will return them to you when they have been cleansed properly.”

Kaida looked at him pleadingly.  He stared down at the both of them, near expressionless.  She begged him to stay.  She begged him to stop this.  And then, mercilessly, he turned and Kaida felt her heart drop.  She watched him walk away, footsteps receding back towards the estate.  And Chiyo resumed her ritual of cleansing.  Hateful words flung at both sobbing children until eventually bell did toll from the village beyond the crimson fence.  And Kaida was left on the stone floor covered in that sparkling blue sand, feeling hurt and wondering if that was what it meant to be cleansed.

What the hell was that?  What the hell am I thinking?

As the G-Savior sped towards the trial, Kaida’s mind was a flurry of memories, thoughts, and panic.  She scolded herself for her stupidity.  Climbing into a seat with the Black Wolf… getting so close… letting herself have these feelings… none of this could end well.  And here she was, succumbing to these foolish choices out of want and need.  She was a godsdamn Warrior of Light.  A pinnacle of good and justice.  A scion of light… And yet… and yet…

“The enemy comes.  Ready yourself,” said Gaius.

What?  Oh… right.

Kaida looked up as the sphere came into place, the Aethersaber readied.  The triangular ADS went to intercept their blatant charge and she toggled the Alpha Cannon, pulling up the touchscreen and measuring the guardians’ trajectory.  If she was right, she could have the cannon intercept the nodes in a flurry, delaying their ability to block what they were guarding.  She went to push onto the map where she wanted the blasts to land, her fingers trembling so badly that she misplaced the destinations.  The Raen gave a small gasp of shock.

“Kaida?” Gaius asked.

“N-nothing!” she said quickly, scrambling to re-route the beams.  She managed to do so with a sigh of relief.

The Aethersaber collided into its quarry but the target ADS seemed undamaged.  It retreated and Gaius pursued it.  By now, the triangle ADS had recovered and were hot on their tails, firing off lasers.  The G-Savior skated over the water gracefully, the beams zipping on either sides of its sleek white and blue body.  A gander at her radar and she realized the ADS were outpacing the G-Savior.  Soon enough, they would be upon them.  There had to be a way to slow them down…

She recalled what Nero had told her about the magitek bits and went to their command panel.  Her index finger mashed on the deploy button, hoping that they would serve as a distraction or at least a deterrent.  All the while her heart raced with vestiges of fear from what had almost happened (praying fervently that Nero had not seen) but she focused her energy on the fight.  The magitek bits flew from the G-Savior’s side panels, scattering to the winds.  Their beams fired off at the chasing ADS but they charged too slowly.  Before long, the triangular ADS were nearly upon them and Kaida scrambled to activate the Alpha Cannon again.

Gaius engaged the Pyretic Booster just as the ADS behind them began to fire.  The new mode surged the warmachina forward and he moved to swing again with the Aethersaber.  The spherical ADS in front of them swerved sharply, the blade missing it by yalms.  Kaida selected all three bogeys as targets to fire upon then rerouted the bits cut off their quarry. 

“Hm?” Gaius grunted.

“They’re charging something,” Kaida realized.

The Pyretic Booster was swapped for the Aetherial Aegis just in time for twin beams to slam into the G-Savior.  Even with the shield, it was enough to send the warmachina hurtling.  Kaida watched the magitek bits sear their target with their slow beams but the sphere carried on with its evasive maneuvers, creating a larger and larger gap between them. 

“Swap to Pyretic,” Kaida said.  “Focus on the sphere.”

“And the guardians?” he asked, toggling modes back onto Pyretic.

“The Alpha Cannon will handle them,” Kaida replied, looking up to see the twin triangular ADS hurtle at them.  The Alpha Cannon was deployed against them, smacking into their barriers and slightly slowing their progress. 

The G-Savior went after the sphere at high speed.  The bits fired off their beams again, solid misses.  The Alpha Cannons fired off again, once towards the sphere and twice at the pursuing guardians.  Her beam missed—the sphere was too fast and it was pulling ahead, starting to get out of range of her attempts. 

“Can’t this go faster!?” Kaida asked.

“Without the engines failing?  No,” Gaius replied and Kaida sighed, mulling over how to speed up when an idea hit her.  She looked back at the two triangular ADS, realizing they were charging their large beams again. 

“Move so that they’re directly behind us and we’re directly behind the sphere,” Kaida said suddenly.  “And hit the Aetherial Aegis.”

“Our movement will slow,” Gaius warned her.

“That’s all right.  Prep a swing attack,” Kaida replied, additionally readying the Alpha Cannon.

He did as she instructed.  In a stunning flash of light, the Aetherial Aegis appeared around the G-Savior in the millisecond before it was struck by the twin beams.  The warmachina went hurtling towards its quarry, propelled by the hit.  It tumbled in the air, skimming over the water, but Gaius stabilized it as they neared their target.  Kaida fired off the beam at the sphere as Gaius swung in with the Aethersaber—a single horizontal attack that struck hard onto the top of the ADS’s circular body.  It skidded across the waves then deactivated, a floatation device deployed around it.  The twin triangular ADS behind them deactivated.  Kaida blinked and realized that they were victorious.

“It would seem we are triumphant,” Gaius remarked.  The screen next to him came to life with Nero’s face.

“Oh good.  You’re already done.  And it seems as though the G-Savior is relatively unharmed.  You have my thanks for that,” Nero remarked.  “Return back to the hanger and we can call it quits for the evening.”

The flight back to Terncliff was a blur.  There were no words shared between them.  With the tension of the trial dying away, it gave room for Kaida to realize what had happened.  Or almost happened.  She sank into her chair, closing her eyes.  She felt restless trapped in her seat.  Her instinct was to run and pretend like nothing was wrong.  A better part of her called herself a coward for it but she did not know what else to do.  These feelings were scary.  Everything about this was scary…

They returned to the hanger, the debriefing from Nero and Cid another blur.  Kaida let it all pass by, giving them the occasional nod when appropriate.  She felt numbed down to her core.  But she endured the chatter until it was time to pack it in and go to sleep.  And then she made her way abruptly to the hanger doors, slipping out into the fresh air.  It had been a long day and she knew that she needed to rest in order to clear her mind.  Everything felt like it was happening all at once and she was losing herself in the tide.  She made her way from the hanger quickly, hoping to vanish into the dark of the night so no one could see the panic on her face.  But the telltale padding of footsteps behind her let her know that her escape was noticed.

“Kaida.”

She knew whose voice that was.  She had anticipated it.  But that did not make it any easier to turn around and face Gaius Baelsar.  Kaida could not meet his eye.  His typical confidence seemed dampened somehow.  For a painfully long while did the two stand out in the Terncliff street with naught but the nearby lamppost to bear witness to their silence.  All of that cheek earlier in the day radiated with a different kind of light.  She tried to deny it all.  Under his gaze, however, she felt like a sinner whose sins had been exposed.  It was in her nature to fight against it, tooth and nail.

“... I believe we should speak privately,” Gaius finally shattered the quiet, his voice husky and soft.

Did he want to pick up where they had left off before Nero had interrupted them?  The notion invoked fear in her as much as it invoked a silent want.  She remembered her grandmother then most of all.  She remembered being told about how wicked she was.  Old scars from a life she had thought she had put behind her, reopened.  It ached.  Having something right there that she wanted and yet she could not bring herself to accept it.  There was too much guilt and it was heavier than she could manage.  Tears burned in the corners of her eyes.  She reminded herself that she was a Warrior of Light.  Her judgment would be seen as infallible.  The people looked up to her.  Her own peers looked up to her.  How could she even think to disappoint them with this decision?  He was their enemy once.  He had tried to kill them all… And as much as she knew in her heart he had turned over a new leaf, there would be dissenters who told her she was a fool for ever believing in him.

The memory of a young girl weeping as her grandmother tried to cleanse her with coarse sand being thrown into her face burned.  She had felt so dirty that day.  And she felt dirty then too.  No… no, she knew her answer.  Pained as she was, Kaida told herself to put on a brave face.  She was a hero.  Heroes always had to be brave, even when they made hard choices.

Her eyes drew upward.  For a moment, his tall stature reminded her of someone else, his shadow cast long by the light of the nearby lamp post.  She was reminded once more of an eager young knight by the hearth and the way she had broken his heart. 

‘Wait for me, Haurchefant.’

Words that echoed across time to torment her.  She would not tell Gaius to wait.  She would not give him that hope.  Not when she knew what was best.

“No,” Kaida shook her head, the word raking against her heart.  “We shouldn’t.”

Even from her peripherals, she could see the light extinguish from his eyes as he looked momentarily down at the white stone road beneath him. 

“… Very well,” he said.

He passed her by, not another word on his breath.  She stared at where he had once stood for a long while, thinking of the choices in her life that had led her to this moment.  Love had been something that had eluded her.  During her youth, there had been the occasional crush on her peers in Ao-no-Sato.  All of that had gone away when she had been exiled.  Then there had been Haurchefant.  Sweet, earnest Haurchefant with that knightly smile and those yearning lips.  She had condemned him to die unfulfilled and she knew she was undeserving of anything after that. 

But such a thought did not temper the bite of grief in her heart.  When the Black Wolf’s footsteps had receded, she permitted herself to cry.  Her composure broke into a quiet sob under the light of the lamppost, her chest aching so badly that she nearly lost her will to stand.  But she told herself not to fall.  This was another momentary grief… all griefs dulled their pain with time.  At least they had in the past.  This would be no different.  It would dull into numbness with time.  She was familiar enough with the process by now. 

But it felt awful presently—hopeless and bleak, her mind sinking to dark places.  She forced herself to make the solemn trip back to the inn, not daring to look the receptionist in the eye when she passed through the lobby.  When she made it to her room, she locked the door and let herself cry some more, flopping onto the bed in the hopes that its soft sheets would mend her broken heart.  She lay face down for a while, sniffling into her pillow.  In the depths of the ache in her chest, she felt something stir.  It breached the pool of her emotions, rearing its head.  She knew what it was.  But why they had come, she could not say.

“Forgive my intrusion,” a familiar, stoic voice remarked.  “But this seems inane.”

“Fray” was what the voice liked to be called.  It was named after the body it had inhabited once.  A fragmented part of her emotions, a voice of fear, darkness, doubt… and yet some practicality.  She felt insane for acknowledging it was even there.  The shadow manifested itself at the side of her bed, looming over her like an ebony demon.  Its red eyes bore down at her from behind a misty black helm.

“Why are you here?” Kaida sniffled.

“I grew tired of listening to your self-torture,” Fray yawned.  “And whether you understand it or not, you craved a listening ear.”

“Does this not just mean I’d be ranting to myself?” Kaida asked.

“Did you teach yourself the ways of the Dark Knight?”

Kaida was not sure she even knew the answer to that.  She rolled over, facing her back to the phantom and hearing them scoff.

“I didn’t think it was in your job description to console me over something like this,” Kaida grumbled.

“You mistake my meaning; I am not here to give you advice on matters of the heart,” Fray retorted.  “Your mind teeters at the precipice of an abyss.”

“You would know all about abysses, I wager,” Kaida said.

“This abyss will consume you,” Fray replied.  “If you permit it.”

“Speak plainly.”

“You have not been the same since Amaurot.  It took everything you believed in and in a single moment, it was all crushed before you.  You understand now that you were someone before.  It haunts you, the words of Emet-Selch.  Knowing in those final moments, he was searching for that last glimpse of someone you feel as though you are not.”

Her hands gripped the sheets of the bed tightly.

“Ever since then, minor stresses have felt colossal.  You dig your heels into this idea that you are a symbol because you fear what you are without that mantle around your shoulders.  You’ve not let yourself be anything but their little Weapon of Light.  And now that an opportunity has presented itself, you would sooner burn yourself alive than take it into hand.”

“It’s Gaius Baelsar.  This isn’t so simple as you’re making it.”       

“You ran from Haurchefant as well.  Do not make this about Baelsar’s past.  You are using that as an excuse.”

“… And so what if I am?”

“I would ask why you insist on torturing yourself.”

“I’m not.  This is… this is the right choice.”

“Once did I offer you to run from this fate.  In a clash of blades was the decision made.  In my defeat, I conceded that yours was the right path.  Now I see my folly in permitting you to go down it.  You’ve all but lost yourself in the role you’ve chosen to play.”

“If you want to go another bout, I’d at least ask that you let me recover a bit longer…”

“Quiet.  We know who will emerge the victor and I have little patience for such foolishness.  I would have you challenge yourself in a different way before you slip down a path in which you can never return from.”

“You always had a penchant for melodramatics, you know.”

“Tch.  Such mockery when the truth is undeniably before you.  You know where this path ends.  I am telling you to save yourself.”

“You’re telling me I need to give in to every impulse desire so I don’t go mad.”

“Madness is a slippery slope.  You have seen great men fall to it.  You are tired.  The mantle of the hero is heavy.  Ingrain not your entire being into it or you will find yourself slipping down that slope as well.”

And with that, Fray vanished, leaving Kaida possibly more frustrated than she had been when she had arrived back to her room.  She rolled back onto her back and stared at the ceiling, miserably wiping her tears away.  Was being dedicated to a cause that bad?  Was giving one’s life to something worthwhile really so damning?  She thought back to all of the good she had done.  Sure, she had given up much to stay with the Scions.  Her mission of hunting down Odokuro was all but abandoned.  By joining their order, she had given herself to a life of hardship and strife… but it was worth it, in the end.  Even if it was difficult.  All of the sacrifices.  The selflessness.  She could maintain the pace.  Fray was wrong… Fray had to be wrong…

Kaida rolled over and looked to the bedside, where she had lain out the letter about Arnvidar’s passing.  She pulled away, pained all over again at the thought of going to another funeral.  But she knew she had to.  Another duty added to the list.

The next day came and Gaius wished it had not.  Since his brief encounter with Kaida post-trial, he had lain in bed feeling somewhere between ill and depressed.  He did not want to admit how biting that “no” had been, stabbing through him like a knife to the heart.  He felt foolish for letting it get to him so; he was an ex-legatus who had governed his own province, who had conquered a number of cities.  And yet the following morning saw him feeling absolutely defeated in a young and boyish sense. 

Nevertheless, there were things to do so with a groan, he got himself out of bed and set about getting ready for the day.  Cid and Nero would have another trial slated for that afternoon.  Gaius did not want to admit he already felt the tension emanating from Kaida’s room down the inn hall.  It was going to be an uncomfortable time but he steeled himself, slipping into the familiarity of his legatus persona. 

Allie was cooking breakfast by the time he was out of the washroom and dressed.  She slid him a plate with some pancakes on it, a warm smile on her face.  He wished he could have shared her enthusiasm about the new day but he was emotionally burned.  Gaius accepted the breakfast gratefully however and began eating.

“Did you sleep well?” Allie asked.

“Yes,” Gaius lied between bites.

“Good.  I have heard from Nero this morning,” Allie began and his amber eyes flitted to her curiously.  Her smile widened.  “They’ve formally selected me as the pilot for the Mark II!  I have a co-pilot as well, a local boy.”

“That is excellent to hear,” Gaius smiled at her briefly then shoveled another forkful of pancake into his mouth.  His nose detected the scent of bacon and he noted that she was frying some up in another pan. 

“I know you are only temporarily flying as the Mark I’s pilot but maybe we will get to see each other some at the hanger!” Allie beamed at him. 

“When do you begin your duties?” Gaius asked.

“Well… when they’ve completed tinkering on the Mark II, I guess,” Allie replied.  “But I’m to check in daily and review the updates at the very least.”

“Mm,” Gaius nodded.

She gave him three strips of bacon and sat down with her own plate.  The light in her eyes made him feel slightly more at peace.  This was the first time she had seemed truly happy since the affair with the Diamond Weapon.  He mustered up a small smile for her sake, not wanting to dampen the mood with his own troubles. 

Not that the moment of peace lasted long; soon enough, Gaius heard his linkpearl go off and he gave a frown as he put it to his ear.   

“Gaius,” came Valdeaulin’s voice on the other end.  “I have just received a report from the Werlytian scouts.  A merchant caravan was attacked in the early hours of the morning.”

“By whom?” Gaius demanded.

“They claim it was a band of rogue Garleans,” Valdeaulin informed him.

He knew who it was immediately.  The Wolf sucked in a sharp inhale through his nostrils.  “Cassius.”

“It is very likely.  I understand you know him from your time as a legatus.  It would seem he and his compatriots stole mostly whatever they could grab.  No fatalities but the merchants are understandably angry at their loss of product,” Valdeaulin replied.

“What was stolen?”

“Food and clothing.  Necessities, I would wager.  They made an attempt to take the merchants hostage but were unsuccessful.”

Valdeaulin was right; Cassius was stuck without any place to return to.  He could attempt to flee to the southern lands and pray the Eorzeans were merciful.  Or he could try to dwell in the highlands of Werlyt, pilfering from unfortunate passerbys for survival.  If Garlemald was truly as ruined as the Scions claimed it was, then there was no sense to return.  They were trapped and all they could do was try to survive with what little they had.  Gaius’s heart went out to them but he understood the wrongness of it.  These transgressions could not go ignored.  And that they wanted hostages made him uneasy.

“Do the scouts know where they have gone?”

“No.  They are still searching for them.  As soon as I hear back, I will let you know.”

“You have my thanks,” Gaius said then removed the linkpearl from his ear.

“Trouble?” Allie asked.

“Cassius and his band have taken to banditry,” Gaius informed her and the Raen’s eyes went downcast for a moment.  “I know not what the future will hold for them.  But the Werlytians are understandably angry.”

“I see,” Allie said quietly.  “I… I don’t suppose there’s any way we can stop it peacefully?”

“Would that I knew a way to do that,” Gaius lamented.

“Not everyone in the VIIth… was like Valens,” Allie commented as she picked at her food.  “There were people there like us.  People that were just as unfortunate…”

“I know.”

“… What if they deploy the Mark II after them?” Allie asked.  “What if they make me… I-I don’t know… I don’t think I can…”

“We will find a way to resolve this with as little bloodshed as possible,” Gaius cut her off.

“I hope you’re right, Father,” Allie whispered.  He feared she would start crying again.  Gaius was not sure he could handle that.

But Allie seemed to press through the feelings without shedding a tear.  She ate quietly, the mood brought low by the news.  Gaius loathed it; just moments ago, she had been so full of life and joy.  He wanted to remind her of how far she had come but like all things emotional, he struggled to chart the course that would bring her happiness.  The Black Wolf mulled over it for a bit, finishing his food.  He sat his fork down.

“It was very delicious, Allie.”

“Thank you…”

A small half-frown.  Complimenting her did not seem like the right path.  He opted to try another tactic.

“You have been spending time with Avilina lately.  I am glad you have begun to settle in,” he said to her, noting the way she looked up slightly.  “Before you begin your duties, is there aught you would like to do?  A trip to Werlyt, perhaps?  Or elsewhere?”

“I… suppose I hadn’t thought of that.  When I begin my duties, I suppose I’ll be rather stuck here…” Allie mused.  “I don’t know.  I will have to think on it… Will… Will they let you come with me?”

“I am certain they will not mind,” Gaius said dismissively. 

“If they do, I guess we could ask Kaida to come with us,” Allie began and Gaius fought to keep his face straight.  “Not like you could possibly run off to cause mischief if a Warrior of Light is watching you…”

“Correct,” Gaius said stiffly.  “And yet I would be remiss to impose so on Lady Asagiri.”

It felt better to call her that instead of her first name.  It created a distance.

“You’re probably right,” Allie sighed.  “Well, it’s not like I can think of many places I’d want to go to.  I hear there’s a nice beach resort on Vylbrand but it must be awfully expensive…”

“Perhaps we can make an arrangement,” Gaius shrugged and Allie smiled at him sweetly.

The next few hours were spent in a hazy sort of dread.  Both exhausted from a lack of a good night’s sleep and restless over the impending awkward trial run.  He napped when he could on the living room couch, something distinctly comfier about it than his own bed.  Allie left at some point for a doctor’s appointment and Gaius all but counted down the hours until it was time to go to the hanger.

By the time he arrived, Kaida was already there.  Not meeting his eye.  A vacant, worn expression was on her face.  She looked as though she had slept as little as he did.

Cid and Nero, on the other hand, seemed to be in high spirits.  They were almost getting along and Gaius was not sure he liked that.  It felt as though the world was far different than it had been the day before.

“Right, well, let’s get you both suited up and into the G-Savior,” Cid said to them.  “Should just be another quick trial like yesterday.  We re-tuned the ADS so they will be slightly more difficult.  Just another day of trial and error.”

The locker room was deadly silent when Gaius walked in.  He had no quip for her when he pulled his shirt off.  She did not dare look in his direction, taking refuge in the changing room.  He mused over how nice of a day yesterday had been—all up until the end.  The quiet between them felt strained and yet so childish.  They were colleagues, at the end of it all.  No amount of awkwardness should have gotten in the way of that.  And yet Gaius found himself unable to decide how to diffuse the situation.  So he let it be for now—perhaps space was the best solution this time. 

When they walked together to the G-Savior, fully suited and ready to fly, it was wordless and solemn.  Gaius was reminded of a funeral.  He stepped into the cockpit first, offering her his hand.  He could see her gauging if she could step in without falling.  She resorted to taking his hand.  Still no words between them.  The hanger felt as cold as a Garlean winter.  Both Gaius and Kaida settled into their chairs.  The engines started and Cid’s face appeared on a screen in front of them.

“As I was saying earlier, it’ll be much like last night’s test.  We have made no modifications to the G-Savior.  We have upped the shields on the ADS slightly to gauge the Alpha Cannon’s power a little bit better.  Kaida, if you could please use the cannon in abundance so we can make several recordings,” Cid instructed.

“Got it,” she said hollowly.

“You both look tired.  Maybe we should give you the day off tomorrow, eh?” Cid commented.  “Pity there’s no chance of it actually happening.  But it’s a nice and comforting thought.  Launch when ready.”

The screen went dark.  Gaius took in a breath.  Kaida was silent.  It was better this way, he told himself.  He sighed.  The trial was what he needed to focus on.  He turned his gaze to the open sky beyond the opened hanger doors.  Gaius initiated the launch sequence, the systems running a quick check.  A countdown began and when it reached its end, the G-Savior began forward into the deep blue sky. 

The rush of the engines as they ascended reminded him of the night before.  The stars had spread before them like a celestial river, so beautiful and bright—like a dream.  It had caught them up in the moment, pushing them towards each other.  Gaius did not lament the moment; he captured it in his mind and he set aside the memory for later.  Even if it had not worked out, it had still been beautiful. 

With the waters below and an endless sky overhead, the G-Savior soared like a dream under his control.  He thought to leave it on manual steering to give himself something to occupy his thoughts and hands.  Yet Gaius was no fool.  The longer the silence reigned between them, the harder it would be to work as a team.  He switched to autopilot, hands falling into his lap.  A deep breath was taken in.

“Kaida,” Gaius began.  “What matters most today is the mission.”  

“Did I give you the impression that I didn’t care about the mission?” Kaida asked.  A kneejerk reaction, her accusation clear in her tone.  It had been a misstep on his part, he knew.  He should have taken a less direct route.

“Apologies.  I just did not want there to be any distractions.  When we are in this cockpit, we are colleagues.  No more.  No less.”

“… And did I give you reason to think that I believed anything different?”

A strangled sigh was caught in throat.  He tried not to seem vexed at her.

“I meant only to clarify, not accuse.”

“Okay.”

Another silence.  Why was she being so difficult?  He frowned and thought to turn manual flight back on.  But suddenly his communications screen brimmed to life, Cid’s shocked expression filling it.

“Reroute!  A distress signal has just been picked up from north of Terncliff, along the main road.  A Garlean airship has opened fire upon a traveling caravan of civilians!” Cid exclaimed.  “Sending you coordinates as we speak.”

No…

He felt the taste of bile in his mouth, sour and burning.  Gaius pulled the G-Savior towards the north, glancing at the map as the coordinates came through.  A red dot marked the site of the attack.  Gaius braced himself, knowing the likely culprit and hating himself for letting him go.  There was hardly anything he could do to stave off the inevitable at this point.  If Cassius was firing upon civilians, he would have to be put down—lethally, if necessary.  Gaius only found relief in that it would be his hand to do it, not Allie’s.

“Any fatalities?” Kaida asked Cid.

“Not that we’re aware of,” Cid replied.  “Terncliff is sending on-foot reinforcements but I don’t know if they’ll make it in time.  Hurry!”

The screen went blank and Gaius pressed the G-Savior’s engines at full speed towards their destination.

“That tribunus we let go at Castrum Collinum,” Kaida began.  “It’s him, isn’t it?”

“Tis likely,” Gaius answered.  “I received a report that his band was spied prying off of travelers.  They’ve resorted to banditry to make a living.”

“You know what might happen, don’t you?” Kaida asked.  “We could be forced to…”

“I am aware,” Gaius cut her off.  “Though I would ask you to use non-lethal force if possible.”

“They’re using lethal force on the civilians,” she pointed out.  “Garlean airships are not known for dispensing out gentle deaths.  We may not have another choice.”

“I am aware of that as well,” Gaius replied.  “These men are desperate.  Do not forget they were but pawns in a greater scheme.  They are likely standard legionnaires.  Some of them even conscripts.”

“I understand that.  But prepare yourself because this could quickly turn ugly.”

The hardness in her tone had dissipated.  He tried not to look too much into that.

Soon enough did the battle site come into view—the Garlean airship had landed next to where the caravan was being held up.  A few pillars of smoke billowed from the ground.  He saw no corpses.  Below, Gaius could see a few haggard Garleans loading their ship with what appeared to be ceruleum tanks.  Suddenly, their thievery made more sense.  If they had enough fuel, he wagered they were looking to cross over Eorzea or even venture to Othard.  There were ample amounts of wilderness there to hide within.  The traveling merchants had been gathered to the side and were being held at gunpoint by two Garlean soldiers.

“I’m going to charge the Alpha Cannon,” Kaida said to him.  “It’ll hopefully spook them into surrendering.  But I don’t like this.  They already have innocents at gunpoint.  I don’t think this is a situation where we win, Baelsar.”

He knew that.  Cassius was smarter than to not have a trick up his sleeve.  The Black Wolf massaged the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

“Aim for the distant hills.  Not at the caravan.”

“Baelsar.  I was not born yesterday; I know what I’m doing.”

“… Very well.”

The G-Savior landed, its sword brandished.  Gaius could see through the windshield that the Garleans were scrambling.  All of them seemed to be purebloods but it was hard to tell due to their thick uniform armor plating.  Cassius stood next to the ship, lance in hand.  The wind blew through his honeyed mane, his icy eyes fixed upon the warmachina.  Just as Kaida said she would, the Alpha Cannon began to charge.  Gaius looked down at his dashboard, flicking on an intercom that could broadcast his voice through a speaker at the G-Savior’s head.

“Attention Garlean forces.  Surrender immediately and you will be spared.”

“Once more you arrive too late,” Cassius declared in a thunderous voice, taking a few measured steps then pointing his speartip at the captured civilians.  “Flash your pretty cannons, Wolf.  I have already claimed victory here.”

The Alpha Cannons fired off into the distance, striking the hill behind the road with plumes of smoke.  Gaius could hear Kaida’s vexed breath.  She had been right; this was a situation where they could not win.  They would be lucky if they were able to extract the innocents unharmed.

“I know you’re a better man than this, Cassius,” Gaius began.

“You know nothing but the luxury of living life while others bear the consequences of your actions,” Cassius snapped back.

Gaius bit back a growl in the depths of his throat.  “Name your price for the civilians.”

“Amnesty,” Cassius declared.

“Tch.  I cannot grant that.  You know this,” Gaius replied.

“Then I would ask for you,” Cassius said, drawing his lance from the civilians to the G-Savior.  “The Black Wolf to surrender himself.  We will take the goods we desire and the traitor legatus.  The civilians may walk free.”

“What?!” Kaida blurted from behind his seat, indignant and outraged.

Gaius sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

So that’s the way of it, then.  You cannot have your own freedom from what you have done so you decide to take one last chance at vengeance.  Very well.  Take your fill, Cassius, and cherish the rot that’s grown in your heart. 

Gaius undid his seatbelt.

“Stop,” Kaida said, undoing her own and rising from her chair.  “You’re not actually doing this.”

“We’ve no other option,” Gaius said as he turned to face her.  “Ensure that Allie is cared for.  That is all I can ask of you.”

“Stop,” Kaida repeated, reaching out and grabbing his shoulder.  The fear in her eyes was sharp, poignant.  Her grip on him rang with desperation.  “You can’t do this.”

His hand went to her shoulder as well, clasping it with a light squeeze.  “Step aside.  If I do not, their lives could be forfeit.  These are desperate men.  They will do what they must to live.”

I do not think Cassius low enough to kill innocents.  But backed into a corner, he would do anything to find a way out.

He made to gently push her away.  She stood firm, glaring into his eyes.

“What if we tell them that they can take the goods?  They won’t want the merchants,” Kaida insisted.

“If they believe they can use them as bargaining chips, they will,” Gaius replied, trying to move her aside once more.  She dug her heels in.  He scowled at her.  “You cannot mean to place my life before those of innocent civilians, Kaida Asagiri.”

“I…” Kaida started, swallowing.  She had no argument against his—he could see through her so easily. 

Her eyes seemed glassed over, brimming with a myriad of emotions.  But at his next attempt to get her to let him pass, she relented.  Her small body seemed frailer somehow, light as a doll.  He felt her mournful eyes chase after him and he thought about how today could have been different.  Perhaps it was better that she had turned down his attempts the night before.  Life was a cruel mistress.  It seemed as though their time together had run its course.  A bitter smile passed over his lips as he opened the cockpit.  There was a ladder to descend from the G-Savior and he took it, eventually landing upon the golden grass of the Werlytian field.

Cassius stood just yalms away, his hardened expression faltering.  If Gaius had not known better, he would have thought the disgraced tribunus regretting his decision.  But it was too late to back out now.  The deal was struck; the die was cast.  Gaius knew his life would be over by sunset.  There were things he had to answer for and the hurt in Cassius’s tired eyes was caustic.

“Release the prisoners,” Cassius said, voice breathless.  His blue eyes danced to the Garlean guarding them.  “Now.”

The civilians were unbound and Gaius stepped forward.  Heirsbane had been left in a locker at the hanger.  He was unarmed and at their mercy now.  As the guard bound his hands with some thick, partially frayed rope, Gaius mused over the irony of the situation.  He had decided not to throw away his life for Allie’s sake.  And yet life had forced him to do so anyways.  This was truly his fate and he could not run from it.

“A wolf’s pelt is not going to do us much good,” grumbled one of the Garleans as the civilians began fleeing towards the G-Savior.  “Unless you think it’ll buy us ceruleum to make the journey to Thavnair.”

“Could turn him over to Zenos.  Perhaps he would spare us,” said another.

“No,” Cassius said sharply.  “We are done here.  Load him up and let us be off.”

A rough set of hands pushed him towards the airship.  Gaius faced his destiny, expressionless—knowing these were his twilight hours.  He cast no look back towards the G-Savior.  Kaida would ensure the civilians made it to safety and she was enough to pilot the warmachina back to the hanger alone.  He only wished she did not look upon these moments with such despair and sorrow.  At the end of everything, they had been fools to think it would end in any other way. 

He was forced down onto a steel bench inside the airship’s small hull.  Cassius sat across from him, lance still in hand.  Footsteps indicated the other soldiers had made it inside.  Gaius heard the roar of the engines as they ignited, knowing it would be the last time he heard such a sound.  He stared at Cassius, locking eyes with him.  There were no words to be said, not after the years of love and heartbreak.  The airship took off and the Black Wolf could hear the engines shudder and sputter a few times as they ascended.  Wherever they were headed, he was certain it would be his place of execution. 

Staring down his fate, Gaius Baelsar felt nothing at all.

Not relief.

Not heartache.

Not remorse.

Chapter Text

She couldn’t believe what he had done.  Staring at the Garleans as they freed the civilians and loaded Gaius into their airship, Kaida was numb.  Her breath hitched in disbelief, the only sensation she could feel was the tightening of her fists at her sides.  No.  No, this was not how the story ended.  This could not be how the story ended.  Slowly, she descended the small steps that fed to Gaius’s chair.  A hand rested upon it.  Her fear choked her, strangling her senses.  The anger that lifted its head within her heart was like a solar flare.  Searing hot, lashing out in savagery, coursing through the cold fog of her dead emotions.  She watched the airship take off into the sky.

‘Wait for me…’

It rang in her mind like a bell tolling at the end of a funeral.  In the cold of the moment, she felt Haurchefant’s gaze from the beyond, sad and disbelieving.  She had not said those words to Gaius Baelsar but the same stubbornness marred her refusal.  The same hang-ups, the ones that made her feel hollow, had ruined what could have been.

She wanted to laugh at her own stupidity and so she did.  Humorless, the sound of her near-hysterics rang into the quiet of the G-Savior’s cockpit.  Her feelings for Gaius tore through her own guilt without a shred of mercy.  How could she have ever denied herself?  How could she have let their final meeting be so filled with venom and rage?  She hated herself.  She hated those vestiges of things she could not shake.  The guilt, the pressure… the fear of disappointing others.  She realized then she had let them rule over her for so long.  Perhaps in her freedom from Ao-no-Sato, she had found new chains to bind herself.

I’m such a fool.

Fray’s words felt a bit more real.  She felt that abyss they had spoken of.  It beckoned to her with tempting whispers.  Its call was a siren and she could feel herself start to succumb to it.  If they killed Gaius Baelsar, she feared she would be consumed by this unhinged rage.

I shouldn’t have said no.  I know it wouldn’t have stopped this.  But knowing now what I know… Kaida thought angrily.  No.  There’s no sense in thinking about that now.  It’s not too late.  I can still save him.

But first, the merchants needed to be seen to.  She scaled down the ladder that would lead to the ground.  The airship was still a black ant in the sky.  She looked at it as she ran for the freed hostages.  There were five total—one who seemed to be the leader and a few workers.  The leader was a Raen, his skin a pale blue as the ocean under the light of the sun.  Though he had been cut free, she could tell he was injured.  She reached out and began to heal him.

“The guard will be here soon,” Kaida said to him.  “Who’s the most injured?  I can try my best to heal them.”

But I cannot stay long.  I need to tail that airship. 

“Most of us are unharmed,” the Raen merchant said to her.  “A few took minor injuries but their leader wanted us alive.”

For amnesty apparently.

“My leg…” one of the merchant’s employees complained and Kaida looked down to see a young highlander lad laying a few yalms away, gripping a cut on his leg.  She ran over, looking the injury over.  It was deep but he would survive with medical attention.  Glittering, starry magic coursed from her palm to the gaping wound, stitching it.  She was still out of practice but she recalled her training from Urianger.

Maybe I was an idiot to leave my globe behind as well… Healing without a focus is difficult.

In the distance, she heard people approaching on mounted chocobos.  Her head swiveled and she saw the Terncliff guards crest over the distance hill.  Too late for the action, but she supposed she had been no different.

“Care for these people,” Kaida instructed them in a voice that rang with firmness, despite being much shorter than the guardsmen that rushed onto the scene.  “I must go after that ship.”

None of the guard protested and Kaida bolted back for the G-Savior, memorizing where she had seen the airship fly off to.  Her hands were shaking by the time she thudded into the cockpit seat, still warm from when Gaius had been sitting in it.  She activated the engines.

The screen came to life next to her.  Cid’s face appeared.

“Kaida?  Kaida, what’s happening out there?” he demanded.

“Cid,” Kaida began, vivid eyes flitting to him.  “The guardsmen just arrived and they’ll take care of the civilians.”

“What’s happened to the G-Savior?  Where’s… where’s Gaius?” Cid asked.

“I’m going after them,” Kaida said to him, not sure she had the mental fortitude or the energy to explain the deal the Wolf had cut with the tribunus.  “They took Gaius.”

“Took him…?” Cid asked incredulously.  “How?  How is that possible!?”

“The civilians are all right.  I can pursue in the G-Savior,” Kaida said.

“By yourself?” Cid asked.  “You can’t possibly handle all of the machina’s weaponry and pilot it at once.  Not even Gaius could do that!”

“I don’t need all the weaponry,” Kaida replied.  “I just need enough fuel.”

The G-Savior took off into the sky.  Its controls still felt mostly same as when she had piloted it against the Sapphire Weapon but Kaida was distinctly aware of the other buttons on the dashboard.  She realized one was a scanner, detecting other flying units in the nearby area.  As it ran, she searched both it and the skies for any trace of the airship.  The desperation that ripped at her was an old familiar friend by now.  But its presence did not soothe her—it drove into her heart like nails and she gnashed her teeth in the manner of a beast.  The G-Savior accelerated into the heavens.

If they kill him… no.  No, I can’t do this again. 

Beneath her gloves, her knuckles were white from the vicious grip about the G-Savior’s controls.  Her chest heaved with small, shaking breaths.  The edges of her eyes burned with the threat of incoming tears.  Desperately, she searched the skies, widening the scanner’s radius.  She would find him… she had to find him.  She would never forgive herself otherwise.

Gaius… where have they taken you?

The silence persisted like an unwelcome guest but they all tolerated it.  Gaius counted seven Garleans aboard the ship—three less than he had marked at Castrum Collinum.  Upon further inspection, it seemed as though one of them—the pilot—was a lalafellin man.  Another, a roegadyn with dusky brown skin and a bald head, sat as his copilot.   The rest were purebloods, donned in their thick plated armor, though heavily damaged from countless battles.  Gaius sat quietly among them, staring past Cassius’s head.  The blond’s gaze was lowered to the ground, his spear leaned against his crimson-clad shoulder.  His scruff had formed a small, golden beard.  It made him look older, more rugged—matching the dismal, dull look in his icy blue eyes. 

“Where are we skinning the Wolf?” one of the purebloods asked the tribunus. 

“We will drop him off beyond the mountains,” Cassius replied, voice crackling slightly.  “There will be no skinning.”

Gaius tried to mask his surprise.

“Sir?” the pureblood asked.

“You heard me, Felix,” Cassius grunted, lifting his eyes to meet that of his subordinate’s.

“Then why did we bloody take him!?” demanded Felix.  “We could’ve kept the merchants and demanded free passage over Eorzea!”

“The Wolf’s absence will ensure Terncliff’s new weapon is no longer operational at full capacity.  The haul was plentiful; we need not strike a bargain with Werlyt or with the Eorzean Alliance.  We can make it to Thavnair on our own,” Cassius replied dismissively.

“Oh, like hell we can!” piped up another pureblood, a woman.  “This ship’s barely holding it together.  A flight that far will test its integrity!  We’ll be lucky if we don’t spill into the damn ocean and end up shark bait!”

“Trade the Black Wolf for amnesty, then?” suggested Felix.

“I think we all know that won’t work,” Cassius scowled.

“Then at least shoot the bastard for killing Lord Varis and putting us all in this shitty situation!” another pureblood declared.

“There has been enough wanton violence as of late,” Cassius said sharply.  “Shedding more blood will get us nowhere.  We must focus on getting to safety.”

“Tch… we wouldn’t be in this situation if you had just done as you were supposed to and fucking killed Varro in his sleep,” another of the purebloods snapped at Cassius.  “We could’ve still had Collinum.”

“And no Empire to support us,” Cassius retorted.  “Zenos had already cut us off.   The capital was already in disarray.  We would have dwindled in supplies until the enemy realized our plight and overwhelmed us.”

“We would’ve had more time to figure out where to go!” one of the purebloods rose angrily from his seat.

“Sit,” Cassius barked, grip tightening upon his spear’s handle.  “There’s no sense in bellyaching over what we cannot change.  The airship will bear us as far as it is able to take us.  And from there, we will decide what is best.”

As if to taunt them all, the airship’s hull gave a creak.  Gaius could hear the engines coughing.  They had loaded it with ceruleum aplenty but there was something distinctly wrong with the engine itself.  It gave a shudder and Gaius knew that they would have to land shortly to inspect it.  Cassius’s men were right; at best, it could carry them halfway to Thavnair.  But from how it sounded, the ex-legatus would not have been surprised if the airship gave up the ghost before the day was done.  Silently, his amber eyes flitted to Cassius, who seemed to be chewing on some thoughts quite heavily.

“Right, well,” began the lalafellin lad from the cockpit.  “Speaking of the airship, it… seems like something is amiss with its engine.  Might need to land.”

“Do whatever is necessary,” Cassius said and Gaius felt the ship start to descend.  That numbness returned.  Would this be his final resting place?

His thoughts went to Kaida.  They went to Allie.  They went to Cassandra- a daughter long estranged by now from a marriage that had been but a brief candle in the wind.  So many regrets.  That he could not have spent his waning years with the woman he had fallen in love with.  That he could not have lived to support Allie.  That so much would go unsaid to that daughter he knew he had.  The one that likely did not even see him as a father.  Gaius smiled bitterly, closing his eyes.  There was no use in mulling over his regrets.  They had been seeds planted long ago.  They were a reality he could not change anymore.  It was time to make peace with that.

The ship landed shortly, swaying in the air until eventually touching down.  When they disembarked, Gaius scented the salt off of the ocean breeze.  The lalafell had guided them to a cliffside retreat.  Behind them were jagged ridges, infested with golden strands of grass and capped with stone peaks.  A small field stretched out around them, the airship in the middle.  As the two pilots tinkered with the ship, Cassius stared out across the ocean.  He tugged at his lower lip in thought.  Gaius stood just a few fulms behind him, bound at the wrists still.

“How far did we fly from Terncliff?” Cassius asked one of the purebloods.

“It’s about thirty malms away,” came the answer.

“Good,” Cassius said, hand combing through his hair as he approached Gaius.  His tiredness was replaced by trepidation.  A knife was pulled from his belt.  For a moment, the Black Wolf feared that he had been lying about not skinning any wolves.  But then the tribunus began to cut his bindings.

“Cassius—”

“Not a word from you.”

Gaius stared at him, measuring the way he had aged over the last few years.  He noted how Cassius could not meet his eye.  Was it shame or was it heartache?  Gaius could not quite tell.

And came the click of a gun.  Cassius stiffened.  Gaius felt the cold of the knife handle nestled into his own palm.  It was a sign if he had ever seen one and he took the weapon wordlessly.  The tribunus rounded to see Felix standing there, along with his other four cohorts.  A black-barreled pistol pointed at his chest. 

“A mutiny, then,” Cassius said.  Not a single rise or fall in his voice.  Gaius wondered how long he had been expecting this.  Or maybe he was just that exhausted. 

“Aye, a mutiny,” said Felix.  “Less supplies to be burned if we aren’t ferrying as many people.  And, well… it’s not as though you’ve done a good job at leading us to safety, Lord Flavus.”

“I got you out of Castrum Collinum before the Weapon tore it to pieces.  But I suppose memories are foggy little things,” Cassius growled.  Gaius noted that his lance was still strapped to his back, just a half-fulm from his face.  Subtly, he continued where Cassius had left off with his bindings.  He had a feeling he would be needing both hands shortly. 

“You may have saved us then, but where have we been since?” the Garlean woman demanded.  “We might’ve had better luck trying to grovel for mercy from Zenos than running about like thieves in the night, trying to steal enough so we could escape this hellhole.”

The ropes were severed.  Gaius did not make an indication to them that he had freed himself, glaring ahead at the mutineers.

“Zenos would have seen us all killed or worse.  Do not fool yourselves into thinking otherwise.  We all know what’s happened at the capital,” Cassius protested.

“We could use the Wolf as a bargaining chip!” argued one pureblood. 

“Zenos does not bargain.  He’s a notch above a feral beast and he’ll tear you apart like one,” Cassius sneered.  His hand lowered, slipping slightly behind his back.  Gaius returned the knife, praying the mutineers did not notice.

“It’s all hell, no matter where we go,” Felix shrugged.  “But I’ll be damned if I die ‘cause you don’t know what the hell you’re doing!”

Cassius lunged for Felix, the sound of a gunshot tearing through the tense air.  Gaius grabbed the tribunus’s lance, pulling it from its sheath.  He launched himself at one of the Garlean soldiers as they drew out their gunblade.  A few quick strikes to their helm saw the soldier fallen to the ground.  Gaius went to throw the lance at Cassius, looking up in time to see the tribunus stab into the traitorous Felix with his knife.  It was expertly slipped between two armor plates, sheathed to the handle, then ripped from the man’s flesh.  Blood sprayed onto the golden grass.  Gaius tossed him his lance, hearing another gunshot cry out across the fray.  Gaius grabbed the fallen gunblade and leapt into melee.  It did not sing in his grasp like Heirsbane did, but it was good enough.  He carved into one of the traitors as they swung a spear at him, the bite of his stolen sword dinging the man’s breastplate.  Cries rang out, the melee a blur of steel and blood splatter. 

“Run!” one of the traitors shouted and that signaled the end of it. 

As they tore back towards the airship, Gaius watched Cassius disengage from the combat, staring after them with blood splashed on half of his face.  His knife was missing from his hands.  His lance was stained red and he leaned against it, panting.  Though some of the traitors had been sent limping, none of them were downed.  They scattered back in the fashion of cowards, though Gaius could scarcely blame them.  The sight of the Black Wolf with a gunblade had a tendency to do that and he watched them flee to their airship with nary a word.  They had opted to retreat and he would not pursue them.  These were desperate men and women, victims of their circumstances.  In their shoes, he could not have said he would have acted differently.  They were terrified and they believed they were going to die.  He looked to Cassius once more, listening to the airship as its engines kicked on.  The blond stared after them, a hardened expression contorting his lips into a sneer.

And then his cold eyes fell on Gaius.  He turned to face the Black Wolf, still gripping onto his lance tightly.  Gaius’s eyes widened when he realized that Cassius was bleeding from his shoulder—a red cascade trickled between the plates of his tribunus armor, splashing the ground. 

“Fuck,” the blond breathed, tenderly touching where he had been shot with a hiss.

“Cassius!” Gaius began, watching him sway on his feet.  The tribunus pawed at the straps around his pauldron and Gaius moved to assist removing it off of him.  When he did, the wound was exposed—a bullet wound, resting near his left collarbone, just a bit over his heart.  Gaius realized it must have been the first shot that Felix had fired.  Cassius had taken it directly when he had lunged for him.

“I do not need your pity…” he said, grabbing onto Gaius’s shoulder to stabilize himself. 

“Correct.  What you need is a medic,” Gaius replied sharply. 

“And we’re malms from civilization,” laughed the tribunus humorlessly.  “What a pity…”

“We can yet make it,” Gaius said to him.  “Let us remove your armor.  It will make the journey easier.”

“Ha.  You make for a pathetic jester,” Cassius replied with a wince.  “It would be wiser for you to make your way back to Terncliff in solitude.”

“You would have me abandon you here?” Gaius asked then gave his head a small shake of disapproval.  “How strangely dismal of you.”

“Come now,” Cassius retorted in a strained voice.  “If I walk into Terncliff now, they would sooner riddle me with more bullets than see me to a medic.”

“They’re not savages, Cassius.”

The tribunus faltered slightly, staring at Gaius for a long moment.  “I knew you had changed but I never thought I would hear such words from your mouth.  Why are you offering me your assistance?”

A pointed question.  He knows the answer but he wants to hear it from me.

“You saved me,” Gaius grunted.

“So I could live,” Cassius countered.  “They would have overwhelmed me if I was the only one fighting.”

“That may be,” Gaius considered aloud.  “But it’s not the full truth, I wager.”

Cassius snorted.  “Don’t be so sentimental.”

Gaius pulled off his breastplate next then went for his gauntlets.  It all clattered to the ground.  Underneath, Cassius was sweating heavily, his white undershirt stained red.  When he had been liberated of the armor, Gaius began thinking quickly for the next step.  They had to stop the bleeding somehow.  He checked to see if the bullet had gone through and realized it had not.  It was still lodged somewhere in the tribunus’s body. 

“Remove your shirt,” Gaius barked at him and Cassius did stiffly.  He began to press it into the wound, applying pressure before using the sleeves to tie it to his body.  It was a poor man’s tourniquet and Gaius was not sure it would be enough to see them all the way back to Terncliff.

Cassius insisted upon bringing his magitek lance with him and Gaius took the gunblade he had stolen off of the Garlean soldier.  Cassius let Gaius carry his lance, however, keeping his free hand on his shoulder to keep the shirt secure.  The gunblade was slung onto Gaius’s belt.  They began in the direction where they had come from, the roar of the ocean to their right.  It was a beautiful, cloudless day and the sun streamed down upon them, gently warming their backs.  Cassius moved slower than normal, hampered somewhat by his injury.  Gaius took note of the way he looked shirtless—he was thinner than he had anticipated, likely due to limited food supplies and being on the run.  The weeks after losing Castrum Collinum had not been kind and only served to make him look even more haggard.

They walked for a time before Cassius called for a break near a stream.  He sat and ran water through his golden mane and Gaius watched him silently.  The Black Wolf feared they would not make it to Terncliff before the wound got the better of him.  But they were pitifully out of other options.  Unless the Werlytians had sent a band of guardsmen after them, Cassius’s fate was not looking bright.  Yet Gaius knew there was no other option but to press onward.  He hoped for a miracle.  It would take nothing less than that to see them both rescued from the elements.

“I don’t suppose you would listen to me if I told you to go ahead without me,” Cassius said, as if reading his thoughts.  Gaius’s amber eyes flitted to him.  The blond sighed.  “You have more stamina than I do.  You could make it back faster and, if you felt so inclined, send someone after me.”

There was some sense to that but Gaius knew better.  Cassius would use the chance to slip off the grid if he could—likely believing it his best chance versus submitting himself to the Werlytians for aid.  Gaius saw no future in which Cassius lived if he did not make it back to Terncliff. 

“You are not slowing me down,” Gaius replied.

“A lie,” Cassius remarked, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

“Hmph.  The Cassius I recall would be fighting tooth and nail to live.  What became of that man?”

A falter.  A silence.

“I don’t want to die.  But it seems like the destination we’re all running towards, now doesn’t it?”

“You think Terncliff a death sentence.  You’re mistaken.”

“I’m not blind to what the VIIth did here.  I was Valens’s second.  You forget that.  They will take their rightful revenge upon me.”

Gaius paused then remarked, “That soldier claimed you had devised plans to assassinate Valens.”

“I had planned to,” Cassius admitted quietly.  “When Allie returned and Alfonse—” he cut himself off.  Gaius could feel his pain.  “… died... I… devised a plan.  I had wanted to do it from the start.  Kill Valens, I mean.  After Milisandia… but I was a coward.  And in the end, when I had made my peace with betraying the Empire, you beat me to it.”

“No,” Gaius replied.  “The Diamond Weapon crushed Valens and his aspirations.”

Quite literally.

“Good,” Cassius replied with a bitter smile.  “And Allie is well?”

“Yes,” came the answer.  Gaius looked out across the fields of Werlyt then gave a nod, offering his hand.  “Onward.  The day will not wait for us.”

“Right.”

The plains stretched before them and Gaius tried to determine if he could recognize where they were.  He was not sure he knew but Cassius seemed to believe they were heading the right direction.  Across the fields, he saw deer gathered in clusters, grazing but alerted to their presence.  He noted the swivel of their ears, the unsteady looks sent their way.  A hawk’s cry screeched overhead.  The sounds of nature were pleasant to the ears but they told Gaius that they were far from a main road.  He disliked that, casting a worried look back towards the tribunus.  When the sun dipped low beneath the horizon, it would be too dark to see.  Even with the benefit of his third eye, traversing the night would be a dangerous task.  Werlyt was not known for mild nights; the wind would pick up and the temperature would drop.  Cassius was clad only in a set of breeches and his boots and Gaius did not think his flightsuit would fare much better.

He predicted that they had walked another few hours before Cassius needed another break.  Tentatively, they checked his wound.  A red bloody hole flared around the blond’s otherwise fair skin.  To his untrained eye, it looked like a bad injury but better than before.  He bound it against Cassius as tightly as he had before.  The tribunus stared off across the field with a dreary expression.  Gaius thought he was feeling ill; a paleness had taken to his face, giving him a ghostly hue.  He watched him in silence, parsing his behavior to determine what was amiss.

“Why didn’t you tell us you lived?” Cassius finally asked.

“I could not have returned if I wanted to.  You knew this,” Gaius said to him tiredly.  “When I set my sights on conquering Eorzea, I did so without Solus’s blessing.  I would have had to present to him the heads of the Alliance leaders to appease his wrath.”

“He was on his deathbed.  They say he cried out for you,” Cassius remarked.

“A pretty lie.  He was an Ascian and his death but a farce,” Gaius said and the blond laughed.

“Figures that would be the case.  You could have still sent word.”

“I thought it would matter not.  I could not have returned.  The life that I had once led was forfeit and I did not want to place you in harm’s way.”

“Your arrogance is astounding.  We were in harm’s way regardless.  The Frumentarium saw to that.”

Gaius went quiet for a bit, a question lingering on his tongue.  And then he finally asked, “What became of Marilla and Valentina?”

Cassius’s eyes went to the ground.  A long, painful minute passed.  Then he declared, “We should keep moving.”

“Cassius,” Gaius grunted, a hand on his unmarred shoulder.  “Tell me.”

“It’s better that you don’t know, Gaius,” Cassius shook his head and Gaius faltered for a moment.

“If you think me too weak for the truth—” 

“I wouldn’t burden you with it.”

“Spare me your theatrics, Cassius.”

“Fine.  You’ve heard the rumors of what’s transpiring in the capital?” Cassius asked him and Gaius felt his blood start to turn cold.  “They’re still there.  Both of them.”

“The in-fighting did not encourage them to flee?” Gaius demanded and Cassius shook his head.

“Valentina claimed she had a connection that could get her out.  But that connection never came as far as I know.  All the reports from there indicate that the people there have fallen under some sort of malicious spell,” Cassius replied.  “I… would imagine the same fate befell the both of them.”

Gaius’s teeth gritted.  If only they could get into the capital and see for themselves… He gave Cassius a mournful look and a small nod.  “Zenos’s doing, no doubt.  He was the one who slew Lord Varis.”

“Color me surprised,” Cassius said blandly.  “The maniac prince returns from the grave and his sire mysteriously falls not soon after.”

“You did not believe the tale spun from the capital that I had slain him?” Gaius asked in surprise.

“No,” Cassius retorted.  “It would have served you no purpose.  I served under Zenos long enough to know the madness runs deep in him.  Thanks to him, I doubt there will be much left of Garlemald before the year is passed.  But some things are better off as ashes, I think.”

“Some things,” Gaius agreed, extending his hand to him.  “And yet there are those caught in the midst of such schemes who look to the strong for guidance.  Garlemald may be ash but its people can yet be saved.”

“Your optimism is charming but I fear it may not be so simple,” Cassius said, taking his hand.

“Nothing is ever simple,” Gaius replied, helping him back up.  Cassius swayed, leaning into him for a moment.  Gaius supported him with an arm.  “What ails you?”

“Just the pain,” Cassius mumbled.  Gaius did not believe him.  “Let’s carry on.”

And onward they went, the Black Wolf keenly aware of the sun starting to dip beyond the distant mountains.  The first signs of the sunset had come.  Night would fall soon and he feared what the dark would bring. 

She had searched for hours to no avail.  Everywhere she looked, everywhere she scanned, she found nothing.  It was as if Cassius had spirited Gaius away to another dimension.  Still, Kaida pressed on—fearful and desperate, trying to ignore the fuel tank as it steadily lowered.  Cid’s face appeared on the screen for what felt like the thousandth time.

“Still no luck?” he asked her.

“No,” Kaida replied, harried and worn.  She looked to Cid for a brief moment from the corner of her eye.  “No word from anyone around Werlyt?”

“No,” Cid sighed.  “And your fuel tank is getting low.  You may have to turn in.  Night’s falling as well.”

“We can’t leave him like this!” Kaida exclaimed. 

“Kaida, I… I know.  It’s not right but I don’t know if there’s much we can do right now.  I can try to fire up the Mark II and get it ready for you to swap into.  But much more than that…” Cid began, hanging his head.  “They could be nearly anywhere by now.  I’ve asked the guard to keep an eye out.  I’ve even sent for the Scions to send aid.  They promised me a few of your order but they’re pitifully low on able bodies at the moment with what’s going on in Bozja.”

“What about Allie?” Kaida asked.

“Allie…” Cid shook his head.  “She’s just lost all of her siblings.  I don’t know if I want to put this on her.”

He’s got a point.  Damn it all…

“Get the Mark II ready.  I’ll be back before my fuel tank runs out.  Promise,” Kaida said quickly.

 “Aye.  I’ll do that.”

Cid vanished from the screen.  Kaida sighed and pressed on.  Night encroached like an unwanted phantom.  The stars that peered from its black void danced over her, reminding her of the bliss from the night before.  It should have been a happy memory but it raked against her cruelly.  She clenched her jaw, casting a fearful look at the fuel meters.  She knew she would have turn around soon; the G-Savior was starting to warn her that she would soon be delving into her reserves. 

A bleep on her radar alerted her, its noise so loud that it nearly sent her jumping out of her chair.  She immediately steered the G-Savior towards it.  When she grew closer, she realized in the waning sunset that she had found the Garlean airship from before.  The Aethersaber was brandished and she landed the warmachina next to the ship, poising its tip over the airship’s hull.  She flicked on the intercom.

“Hand over the Black Wolf or your ship gets torn to bits.”

Kaida looked up, ready to see them scrambling in reaction to her sudden arrival.  Instead, she saw… nothing.  A small campfire sat, crackling and burning away.  But it seemed empty, this campsite of theirs.  In confusion, Kaida flicked on her radar, swapping it to heat detection.  There were a few blips in the trees across from her and… one more inside the airship.  She waited for a moment, ready to drop the saber upon the ship like a guillotine.  But when no one came to greet her, she tentatively climbed from the cockpit.

“Cid,” Kaida said at the touch of her linkpearl.  “I’ve found their campsite.  No one’s… around.”

“I can see your coordinates on our map,” Cid answered.  “Do you want me to send reinforcements?”

“Not yet,” Kaida replied.  An eerie silence had fallen upon the camp, a stale wind coursing through her teal hair, making her twin tails flutter.  She looked towards the airship, noting how its landing gear was partially broken.  It made its hull sag into the dirt. 

The Raen approached the door leading into the ship’s main compartment—where the troops it carried would have sat.  It opened with the tug of her arms and she immediately heard a groaning noise from within.  Though the voice did not sound like Gaius, she hurried inside with her heart hammering against her chest.  The emergency lights had kicked on, revealing a mostly emptied ship.  She stepped inside, each clank of her shoes loud against the metal floor.  Five steps in and she felt the ground slosh underfoot.  The stickiness and the deep wine red hue told her it was blood.  Kaida followed its trail towards the cockpit, spying a wounded lalafell slumped against the dashboard.  He held onto a gunshot wound, his fair features paled by blood loss.  He lifted his head at her approach.

“You…” he panted.  “It’s you…”

“What happened here?” Kaida asked, moving to his side.  She reached out to heal him but his hand slapped against hers.

“Mutiny… it all went wrong… they… they turned on each other…” the lalafell rasped.  “Shot me in the process.  I’m… I’m just some poor ol’ sod from Dalmasca…”

He coughed wetly, choking for a moment.  She knew he didn’t have long left.

“I can try to heal you,” Kaida said to him but he shook his head.

“It won’t work and we both… know that,” the lalafell groaned.  “It’s a mortal shot.  I’ve seen enough men die to know that…”

She lowered her head.  “I… I can still try…”

Her hands shook.  She remembered Haurchefant.  She remembered him telling her to smile.  She remembered Nanamo, choking on the poison.  She remembered all the times before when she had tried to save someone.  It never got easier.  But Kaida still tried, sending him her healing and watching the magicks futilely try to repair what could not be fixed.  But the lalafell let her. 

“Foolish girl.  Aren’t you a… Warrior of Light?” he smiled, red seeping from the corner of his mouth.  “Your Black Wolf… slipped his lease.  Him and the tribunus both.  Left ‘em by the great cliff.  Twenty malms from here.”

Gaius is alive!?

She hesitated for a moment, looking up at him.  “Why are you telling me this?”

“It’s why you came, isn’t it?” the lalafell asked.  “To rescue him?  It’s… what you hero-types do…”

He coughed and leaned his head back.  The look in his eyes was glassy—he was fading.  “Go on, then.  And shoot Felix if you see him… Damn those Garleans…”

She kept trying to heal him, even as the light faded from him.  His small body slumped over and Kaida let her magic flow until she forced herself to stop.  She stared down at him, stewing bitterly over his death but thanking him for the information.  Her hands went over his eyelids and she mentally told herself to have Terncliff send guards here.  The lalafellin conscript deserved his burial.

Kaida took a brief inspection of the campsite before she left.  There was another body lying under the boughs of a tree—one of the Garlean purebloods.  A set of tracks told her that several people had fled into the woods.  A tree trunk sat partially splintered by gunshots.  In anger, she marveled over what despair had wrought.  She wondered if Emet-Selch saw all of this from whatever afterlife he had been ushered into.  This was what his great scheme had yielded in the end.  It was all so pointless.

She climbed the ladder to the G-Savior, pinging Cid with her linkpearl as she did.

“I found someone at the camp.  They told me where they think Gaius was left,” Kaida said.

“Left?” Cid asked.

“I guess they abandoned him in the wilderness.  Somewhere twenty malms from here.  Near a cliff,” Kaida said. 

“Your fuel’s still low,” Cid pointed out.

“I’m gonna do a sweep on my way back but direct any search and rescue forces this way,” Kaida replied as she climbed into the cockpit.  The engines purred to life.

“Understood.  Be careful out there.”

The great cliff… he must mean the one near the ocean.  That’s west of here.

She took the G-Savior’s controls in hand and sent the warmachina into the darkening sky.  Wordless prayers were offered to the Twelve and the kami.  She hoped they felt like listening on that day.

Night began to fall and Gaius knew that they would need some manner of warmth against the night.  Cassius was shivering already, though he was certain part of it was due to his wound.  It had reopened at some point, ebbing out more blood.  They had stopped to repair it to the best of their ability but it was clear the tribunus was feeling its effects.  When Gaius told him it would be best to seek shelter for the evening, Cassius all but crumpled to the ground, beaten and exhausted.  He leaned his back against one of the sparse trees across the fields, hissing out his pain in labored breaths. 

“Gaius…” he murmured.

“Rest.  I will get a fire going,” Gaius said to him crisply.

“You can spare me your optimism,” Cassius replied.  “The wound feels worse than it did when I was shot.  It’s likely infected.”

Gaius digested the information quickly then nodded.  His plan remained the same.  A fire could help them get spotted in the black of night—assuming anyone was still looking for them.  He set to work about building the campfire as Cassius leaned back with a groan.  His chest heaved with each breath, glistening with beads of sweat.  Gaius kept him in his peripherals, stacking the sticks together.  He padded the would-be fire with tinder, and seized two sticks to begin rubbing a fire into existence.  His calloused hands knew well how to perform the arduous task from his days in the wilderness as the Shadowhunter.  Yet still he found himself tiring before even the first spark came to life.  When he did see the fire begin, he fostered it to the best of his ability, letting it grow until its orange blaze emitted a pleasant heat that helped keep the Werlytian cold at bay.

Cassius stared into the firelight and Gaius thought about how it reflected off of his pale eyes like twin flames.  He looked ill—far worse than he had earlier.  The Black Wolf would not have been surprised if he had to begin the next day by carrying him.  His strength seemed to be all but sapped away and near the wound, a few streaks of red had taken to his skin.  Perhaps Cassius was right; the wound was infected. 

Gaius sat across from him, contemplating finding some form of dinner.  He had a gunblade and he knew there were deer nearby.  Yet the ex-legatus could tell he was almost as spent as Cassius was.  His lack of sleep was catching up on him and he tried to ignore the gurgle in his stomach.

“For what it’s worth,” Cassius began, sounding slightly more put together after a respite.  “I regret listening to you and enlisting in the military.”

Gaius considered this for a moment then nodded.  “Yet had you not listened, I would think you would fare no better than Valentina and Marilla.”

“I probably would not have gotten shot,” Cassius lamented, a twitch of a smirk on his lips.  “But there are worse fates out there.”

The snap and crack of the fire between them took up the quiet.  And then Gaius heard the tribunus make his bitter confession.

“You make it hard to hold a grudge.”

That ached at him more than he thought it would.  His amber eyes dragged to Cassius’s ever-blue, a glassiness about them.  Restrained tears, Gaius realized.

“If I don’t make it… will you stay?” 

“Cassius.”

“I won’t ask you to bury me.  Just stay until I’m...”

The blond’s voice trailed off.  Gaius did not want to agree to this because it felt like admitting the bitter truth.  But still, he forced himself to, giving the tribunus a nod.  “Very well.”

Another silence came, filled with the sounds of their campfire.  Gaius felt his stomach growl but he was too spent to rise from his seating position.  He stared into the fires, mind spinning with a myriad of thoughts.  His hand massaged his forehead and his heart tried to stave off the feeling of hopelessness.  But it was a losing battle.  He was old.  He had seen a few too many die.  And he did not want to see Cassius join them.  Not for all his poor choices.  Not for all the sins he had committed.  Gaius was tired.  He wished the gods were real so he could spit in their faces for their cruelty.  But the reality was darker—that this was simply the way things were with war and conflict.  No one ever won.

“I might be dying now, actually.  Or maybe I’m just hallucinating,” Cassius announced to him in wonder and Gaius’s head jerked in his direction.

The blond had lain down fully onto the dirt, staring at the sky.  There was a sharpness about his gaze.  Gaius almost admonished him for being so light-hearted about the whole ordeal.  But soon enough his eyes followed to where Cassius had started pointed to.  And that was when Gaius saw the cyan lights of the G-Savior hurtling towards them.

He scrambled to his feet in awe, watching the warmachina as it descended.  The wind of the exhaust stirred the grass and nearby tree branches as it touched down, its sleek white body gracefully moving into a crouch.  The cockpit opened almost at once and Gaius could see someone crawl from it.

“Gaius!” a familiar voice exclaimed.  He would have known that voice anywhere.

Kaida sprinted towards their camp, still donned in her flightsuit.  He jolted when her arms came around him in a hug he did not expect, tightly gripping him for a second before releasing him.  When he looked down at her, he could see that her eyes swam with tears.

“Kaida,” he said her name, hoping that would help his exhausted mind catch up to what was happening around him.

“You’re safe…” Kaida whispered, a notable quiver in her voice.

Gaius’s arms went to her forearms, embracing her slightly but trying to calm her.  Through his grip, he could feel her shaking.  She looked like she had more on the tip of her tongue but she soon noticed Cassius leaning against the tree nearby.  Her brows arched, suspicion written across her usually smiling features.

“Hello,” Cassius said in a light tone.

“Kaida, we need to get him to a medical facility,” Gaius began, gripping her arms so she could turn her attention back to him.  When she did, she gave a nod.

“Right.  Take the controls, I can try my best to patch him up,” Kaida nodded.  A flicker of worry crossed her brow when she looked back at the wounded tribunus.

“He’s harmless,” Gaius reassured her, taking note of Cassius’s frown when he said that.

“Right…” Kaida did not sound convinced, moving tentatively to the tribunus’s side as Gaius began to suffocate the fire he had built.  From the corner of his eye, he saw the Raen kneel down next to the tribunus.  A soft glow of magic indicated she was healing him.  He hoped it would be sufficient until they got him the medical help he needed. 

When he was done with that, he went to the G-Savior, scaling the ladder and thudding into the cockpit.  Briefly, he took a moment to gather himself, feeling a twinge in his neck.  He rubbed at it, grumbling to himself.  It had been such an impossibly long day and he could not believe he had made it out alive. 

Chapter Text

As the G-Savior took off into the night sky, Kaida busied herself with tending to the tribunus.  Gaius needed no help navigating back to Terncliff and the warmachina cut through the dark like a blade through warmed butter.  A chime indicated they were low on fuel—Gaius silenced it every few minutes only for it to return with a vengeance.  Kaida ignored his annoyed grumblings and focused on her charge.  Though Cassius was injured and unarmed, she did not trust him; he was the reason Gaius had been taken in the first place and she was not likely to forget that.  With the starlit glow of her healing magicks illuminating the cockpit, she locked eyes with the tribunus.  He held a coolness about him, steadily bearing his gaze into her.  It made her uneasy, those ice blue eyes of his.  They drilled into her unflinchingly, parsing every bit about her.  She felt like she was under a scope it made the back of her neck prickle.  Yet Kaida was not one to be cowed so easily; she kept staring at him, silently daring him to try anything.  To say anything.

Eventually, Cassius averted his gaze, glancing down with the ghost of a smirk on his lips.  With the way his wound had soured, she was surprised he had anything to smile about.  He kept his silence as she worked to mend the bullet wound and she was glad for it—healing was not her expertise, not anymore but she was trying to get back into it.  But it was difficult to do so and not think of all the times before when her magic felt useless.  Thankfully, Cassius’s wounds responded well to her mending and she noted how his body seemed to relax as she tended to him. 

By the time Terncliff came into sight and the G-Savior touched down within the Ironworks hanger, Kaida was certain the infection had at least been banished.  If there were bullets still in his body, a more professional healer would be needed for the extraction.  Whoever was selected for the task would have to move quickly.  If the bullets remained, she feared the internal damage they would do.

The cockpit opened to a host of people on the catwalk already waiting for them.  Guards, medics, engineers, and Cid and Nero—they all were at the ready.  Kaida saw Cassius’s eyes flit to them, widening slightly with fear.  Gaius rose from his chair and helped the tribunus up.  Kaida watched quietly, thoughts so loud in her head that the roar of questions and chatter around her fell into a muted background.  Cassius began towards the stairs leading out of the cockpit, climbing stiffly out.  Gaius followed, a stern hand on his shoulder—less of a comfort and more to encourage him not to slip away, Kaida thought.  She followed wordlessly, pausing as she looked to Cid and Nero.  Cid’s cold, gray-blue eyes stared at Cassius uncomfortably.  Nero hid his expression behind his palm but his eyes were visible enough for Kaida to see the uncertainty in them.

Cassius was turned over to the medics, the guards dissuaded by Gaius in a low voice.  Kaida stood numbly nearby, feeling as though her part in this was done but unable to look away from the cacophony.  Engineers were muttering unsubtly to each other.  Terncliff guardsmen angrily stood nearby, one gesturing angrily at Gaius.  Kaida figured she should have intervened—a Warrior of Light’s word was good for something, right?  Yet the exhaustion of searching hit her and she wavered a bit on her feet, touching her forehead.

“Oh dear,” Nero could be heard muttering behind her.  “I didn’t foresee that happening.”

“Don’t,” Cid brusquely replied.

“Do you suppose they’ll bother to heal him before executing him?  I know these Werlytians are so fond of their trials but it would just be for show at this point,” Nero replied.  “A pity.  Ah well.  All the better that they keep their attention on the other blond tribunus, I think.”

“You’re horrid,” Cid remarked.  “Gaius won’t let them proceed without some due process, I wager.  But that’s not for us to meddle in…”

His voice slightly trailed, a tad melancholy.

Nero gave a soft click of his tongue in thought.  “Color me surprised that Gaius did not take the initiative and execute him rather than let him bloody the G-Savior’s cockpit.  I do hope that comes out of the floor boards.”

“If it doesn’t, just make one of the interns handle it,” Cid said dismissively.

A few minutes later saw Cassius whisked away to the nearest medical facility.  The guardsmen left empty-handed and Kaida could tell they were unhappy about it.  Gaius watched them go, an unreadable expression on his face.  He descended down the steps to the floor level of the hanger, not sparing her a look.  She watched him go, that exhaustion still over her.  Lips pursed, she reflected over the winding, unruly road that had been her emotions.  Her bed was going to feel nice.  And if there was another mountain of missives from cheeky postmoogles, she was certain she was going to learn how far they could involuntarily fly at the kick of her boot.

Louder footsteps from behind disturbed her thoughts.  A hand fell on her shoulder.  Kaida fought to not jump clean from her own skin, head swiveling to look at where Cid stood alongside her.

“You did good today,” Cid said.  A small squeeze.  It served to further jerk her from her haze of tiredness.  “Our engineers will work on fueling up the G-Savior.  But I don’t suspect we’ll be needing you tomorrow morning—not after the disaster today was.  Go get changed and get some rest.  You look dead on your feet.”

Kaida smiled.  It was only halfway forced.  She gave a nod and said, “Only if you promise to rest too.”

“Even if I say yes, you won’t believe me,” Cid remarked and Kaida grinned.

“I might,” Kaida replied playfully then began towards the locker room.

When she arrived, she sensed that she was not alone.  Gaius had taken the changing room and she heard him rustling with his attire within.  The door shut behind her, loud and echoing into the quiet.  If she had been the person she had been that morning, she would have been content to let the silence remain.  But she was not.  The terror of almost losing him had driven nails of madness into her brain.  Her hands still trembled with remnants of fear.  Kaida’s mouth opened to speak but she found her words wasting away in front of her like droplets of water in a desert.  She lowered her head.  All of that and she still could not manage a word to him?  She hated herself.  She hated her anxiety.

Kaida changed quickly from her flight suit and into the attire she had worn earlier.  It felt cold against her skin and when she contemplated the outfit, she thought about how it had felt like days since she had put it together.  Time moved so strangely during crises. 

Gaius stepped out.  Not a look in her direction.  And then he began his way towards the door.  She stared after him, still fumbling internally with what to say.  She watched him go through the door, feeling helpless, powerless.

A voice from within mocked her, asking her if this is what she had wanted all along.  Had it been worth it?  What would she do in a year’s time as she looked back at that moment, letting him walk away like that?  Would she hate herself as much as she did in that moment?  Or would she hate herself more?  The voice mocked and teased, building a tension in her chest.  It was too strong to ignore.  Too loud to deny.

'Wait for me’… no.  No longer.  Never again.  This burden is heavy and I’m tired. 

She swallowed, that fear swaying in the face of tenacity and resolve.

I know what I want.  What I deserve.  And I’m never letting those chances slip by again.

Kaida chased after him, feeling like a fool as she did.  She still did not know what to say.  She was almost certain she would never know what to say, praying that time slowed in those moments as she pursued him.  The hanger flew by and she felt eyes upon her, baffled as she rushed for the door.  She felt like if she stopped now, it would invite a questioning so she ran faster, as if her life depended on it.

The massive hanger door for the G-Savior had been shut so she went for the smaller one, where the personnel would pass in and out.  It was a push-through sort of door and she let her forearms slam into its side to force it open.  Kaida staggered through it and into the night air, clumsy and desperate, her green eyes scouring the darkness for Gaius.  She spied him walking down the sidewalk, the standard route back to the inn.  The logical side of her said to slow down.  To approach him calmly.  Unfortunately, the logical side was fighting a losing battle against Kaida’s growing anxiety.  She lurched herself after Gaius, his slow pace making it easy to catch up.  Yet Kaida was all but a mess at that point, with only the faint thought that she was perhaps running too fast to slow down.

She grabbed his arm and collided with him at the same time—so hard that she nearly fell backwards.

It was enough to shock her senses.  Enough to blur out her vision.  She teetered backwards in the delirium, held fast by a firm grip around her arm.  Her exhaustion mixed with the impact and part of her wanted nothing more than to sit back onto the ground.  But she fought through the feeling, somehow both wired and tired.  When her vision returned, she looked up, following the trail of where Gaius’s hand was around her to up his forearm to his shoulder to his face.  Gaius stared at her.  Wordless.  Mouth agape slightly in an expression of utter bewilderment. 

“Gaius—” Kaida began.

“Are you well?” he asked carefully, slightly perturbed.  It made her second guess her decision.

“No,” she admitted, the confession slipping out unbidden.  Kaida realized it too late and stiffened, wresting her arm from his grip.  “I… am not.”

Earlier, her throat had felt dry as Thanalan.  Now she felt as though she was drowning in her own spit.  She realized now was the time for words and the Twelve and kami both had forsaken her in her wordless pleas for help.  Kaida stared into those eyes that reminded her of the sun and she felt as though she had been dragged under by a horrible, merciless tide.

“… I’m an idiot,” was the only thing she could manage to say in that moment, anxiety unkindly wrapping around her.

The Raen’s teeth chattered slightly, lip giving a vigorous quiver.  The Twelve and kami stayed silent—as they were so wont to do, and she cursed them for it.  Gaius, too, remained silent, still looking befuddled.  She was not sure there were any good words in any language she knew that could spare her the embarrassment of what just happened.  That anxiety mixed with the final bits of fear still left over from the day’s events.  She felt her eyes start to burn along with her face.  It was not her proudest moment.  But suddenly the tears came, making her feel diminished and small.

His eyes widened even more.  She did not realize it until then that she was holding onto his forearm, the width of his muscle making it hard for her tiny hand to grab him firmly.  But her fingers labored to, squeezing onto his arm as her emotions lifted like a massive tsunami, threatening to crash over her.  When the first two tears broke and began their descent down either sides of her face, she felt like a moron.  But it was too late now.  There were points of no return and this was one of them.  She understood that.

“I’m so sorry,” Kaida whispered to him.

A silence.  She wished he would say something.  Anything.

Then he did.

“I… hardly think that the events of the day warrant such an apology, Lady Asagiri,” came his voice in a quiet tone, almost lost in the natural sounds of the night.

She wanted to laugh.  He thought this was about his near death experience?  She chastised herself over her poor communication skills and everything happening in that moment.  Her hand gave another squeeze.

“No,” Kaida choked out with a vigorous shake of her head.  “It’s not… not about today, I…”  She swallowed and wished the gods would strike her down before she continued to make such a fool of herself.  But no divine punishment came and she was at the mercy of the moment.  Kaida tried to calm her breathing with a few deep inhales then exhales.  She shook her head again.

“Then what is the meaning of—” Gaius began, a bit crisper this time.

“That… the other night when we… and then you tried to… and I said no…” Kaida cut him off with a vaguely coherent babble, inwardly cringing.  “… I should’ve let you said your piece.”

He fell silent but she could see the realization in his eyes, chewing on something.  She waited for an eternity.

“S-so say it,” Kaida said to him.  “I… I want to hear what you wanted to… to tell me…”

As if we both don’t already know.

Gaius gave a soft hum in thought, a delightful purr that tickled over her skin.  And then his judgement came, “Not here.”  Her brows arched and he elaborated.  “Follow me.”

She nodded, somewhere between feeling numb and feeling everything.  And then she followed him into the night.

Terncliff was home to a cluster of nooks and crannies that so often went overlooked.  Gaius had learned their locations long ago—they offered a quiet solace in an otherwise busy little town.  As he led her through the winding stone streets, the stars looked down from overhead, their light half-banished by the lanterns illuminating the roads.  Gaius thought of everything and nothing as he stole away into the night with Kaida Asagiri, heart racing.  Cassius was still fresh on his mind, like a ghost that had wandered from his past and into the present.  It left a bitter taste in his mouth.  When he looked at Kaida, he tried not to think of relationships long gone.  But Cassius had reminded him of those halcyon days and the present felt a tad spoiled because of it.  He tried to tell himself that those feelings were dead—that they had been dead for long time.  But Gaius was not one to deny himself the truth, as bitter as it was.  Some things were hard to let go of.

He felt a tad like a traitor for admitting that to himself.  His response to the silent admission was to shove the thoughts away.  The day had been so tiring and it toyed with his emotions.  In all honesty, he did not want to have this conversation with Kaida, not so soon after learning the possible fates of Marilla and Valentina and definitely not so soon after seeing Cassius.  And yet he did not dare deny Kaida her wish—not when she was clearly so emotionally vulnerable and in such a state.  He had never seen her like this before and he was selfless enough to put aside his frustrations for her.

The venue of the conversation would be a small courtyard, nestled between two closed restaurants.  In the day, its old wooden benches hosted patrons as they ate their meals, surrounded by willows and lavender with the scent of the earth permeating the air like a light perfume.  The duo crossed under an archway, its woven metal design wrapped by vines with violet flowers blooming.  And with the soft chuckle of a nearby fountain the only music in the backdrop, they faced each other.  Small lanterns at either sides of the courtyard lit up the area just enough to make each other’s faces discernible in the dark.

He studied her, noticing the way her fear had been replaced by wonder at their surroundings.  And then, when she noticed his look, her nervousness came back in full force—so powerful that she struggled to lock eyes with him.  Under lighter circumstances, he would have tutted at her.  How easily she smiled in the face of danger and how quickly she crumbled when it came to matters of the heart.  It was unnatural, this reaction.  The way she rubbed against her own arms was a soothing tactic—he was aware of it and the dodgy glances all around them.  An untrained eye might have assumed she was just surveying the area and trying to stay warm.  But he knew her better than that.

Over five decades in the living world had made him unafraid to face his own emotions.  And yet when he looked at her, he found himself hesitating.  Where did this end, he pondered solemnly.  In all his attempts at love before, it had never ended well… but there was only one way to see how a path ended and that was to make the fateful trip down it.  He stared at her, looking into those anxious eyes and wondering if this was more akin to the real Kaida Asagiri than he thought.  The one that was not putting on a show for others.

He contemplated how to sidle into the subject with her.  A light approach seemed the best route.

“I only wished to comment upon what was evident,” Gaius said to her calmly.  “I care little for games—dancing around the obvious.  And I wanted to ask your opinion on it all.  Though it seemed you made it clear last night…”

“I didn’t mean…” Kaida began, voice still unstable.  He frowned slightly.  She really was a nervous little thing outside her hefty armor, wasn’t she?  The Raen scratched the back of one of her arms in thought and continued.  “It was… a kneejerk reply.  And I… I regret it.”

A small nod was given.  Perhaps he could understand that.  In her ramblings the other day about her former duties as a miko, she had let it slip that her experience with courting was… minimal at best.  So often did people pull away from the unfamiliar out of fear.  He supposed Kaida was no different in that regard.

“And then… today… I thought…” Kaida began, words still fragmented under the weight of her anxiety.  He wished she would take it slower—for her sake.  Her breaths were a notch under hyperventilation.  “… I thought you were going to die and… I couldn’t… I realized…”

It grew worse, the rapid rhythm of her breath.  His hand found her shoulder and that silenced her.  Those vibrant emerald eyes were dampened with tears once more, glistening like starlight on her lashes.  A few deep breaths were taken and then she seemed well enough to continue.

“I was scared,” she confessed to him.  “I’m still… scared, really.  But I don’t want to say no.  I never wanted to say no.  But I felt like I had to.  Because I’m… and you’re…” Another set of fast breaths and then she shook her head when her words continued to fail her.  “You get the point.”

He did.  The Black Wolf and a Warrior of Light.  It was scandalous.

But Gaius cared little for the opinion of the people.  Not when he was still a man grieving.  Not when he already knew there was naught he could do to appease the masses.  His hands were bloodstained and they would be forever.  And yet he could not submit himself to the blade of judgment.  Allie still needed him… and he wagered Kaida did too.  Gaius would let himself live in the sorrow of his deeds but he would not torture himself.  His grip on her shoulder tightened.

“I do,” he said.  “And I am willing to put aside my feelings if that is for the better.”

“I’m…” Kaida said, eyes searching the air.  “… I’m not.”

He blinked.

“I’m not willing to,” Kaida said, firmer this time, looking to him.  That fire was coming back, hotter and deadlier this time.  “I don’t want to live life wondering… I don’t want to look back at this moment years from now and hate myself for not even trying.”

One of Gaius’s brows arched slightly.

“Even if that means bedding the Black Wolf?” he asked—a poor choice of words, as he saw the shock take to her features.  He clarified.  “… I am not insinuating that will happen.  But many will perceive it that way regardless of the truth.”

“R-right…” Kaida fumbled, dodging his look.  “We could keep it quiet.  In fact, I think that’s the only way we can do this.  I don’t think… some of my colleagues… will approve…”

That was an understatement if he had ever heard one.  And he knew exactly who she was referring to.

“A secret it is, then,” Gaius said calmly.

For the moment, at the least.  All secrets came to light eventually and Gaius knew this one would be no different.  Until then, he would prepare for the day when all things were revealed.

“How did this happen…?” wondered the Raen aloud, voice like a ghost in the night.  She smiled ever so slightly, cheeks still wet with the remnants of her tears.  But he could tell she was starting to overcome her nerves.

“I know not the answer,” came his reply.  He could trace his affections for her to years ago.  Before, when they were enemies on either sides of a battlefield.  But he did not wish to tell her that at the moment.  It did not feel right to say it.  What mattered little was the journey; all he wanted to focus on was moving onward.

“Before, in the cockpit,” Kaida said.  “… We were going to kiss, weren’t we…?”

Gaius was not sure what she was fishing for—it seemed obvious to him what had almost happened.

“You… don’t suppose Nero saw…?” Kaida asked.

“If he had, we would have heard about it,” Gaius replied with certainty.  Nero was not wont to let things slide so easily.  “The seat-sharing may have stirred rumors, however.”

“Great…” Kaida sighed.

A smile curled the corners of his mouth as a thought crossed his mind.  It was a pity they had been interrupted.  Yet within the solitude of the courtyard, they were quite alone.  The blackened windows nearby indicated there was little chance they would be seen.  Though a part of him cautioned to not move so quickly upon her, the inexperienced young maiden that she was, another part of him knew better than to let an opportunity slip by.

It started with a gentle caress down her neck—a soothing gesture.  He felt her respond to it, drawing closer to him.  Her head tilted back, staring up as his fingers traced down her spine to the middle of her shoulder blades.  Closer still she came towards him, until their bodies were brushed against each other.  Wordless, eyes locked—gold and emerald.  He bent down slightly, an arm around her to cradle in the combination of their body heat and to hold her.  It felt right, the sensation of her under his palms, as if this had always been meant to be.  He chastised himself for such a foolish notion… and yet savored it in a helplessly romantic way.  His hand slid to her upper arm, thumb running over the fabric of her shirt.  And then he began to lean in, her much shorter height forcing him to perhaps lean in a bit more than he had anticipated.  But she welcomed it, the soft heat of her breath upon his face and then the gentle meeting of their lips shortly after.

And this time, there was no Nero Scaeva to interrupt them.

Gaius had not known what to anticipate from Kaida Asagiri when he kissed her.  At first, her lips were soft—vaguely moist from her tongue viciously lapping over them.  And then, they were fierce against his.  They pressed with yearning, with hunger—as if they had been chained their entire lives and were only now tasting freedom.  One of her hands grabbed the back of his head, a small fistful of salted brown hair in her grip that gave a gentle tug.  The other hand caressed his cheek, running over the coarse scruff on his face tenderly and yet quickly—exploring him.  Her enthusiasm was charming, quaint, and yet oh-so-enticing; enough to make him amusedly smile through their locked lips.

He thought about taking her to bed that night.  She seemed in favor of it at the moment at least—he sensed the hunger in her.  But he cautioned himself to not get his hopes up too high.  As nice of a distraction as that would be, the day had been long and arduous and they were both due for some rest…

Unless she begged, of course.  He was not sure he could stay his hand if she really wanted it.

They broke apart and Kaida’s shell-shocked expression was enough to warrant a small, purr-like chuckle from the Wolf.  His forefinger trailed her jaw to her chin, tilting her head up slightly.  She was incredibly warm to the touch and red in the face. 

“I’ve… never had a…” Kaida began, shifting her feet.  “… a boyfriend… before… so I apologize if—”

“We have scarcely begun courting,” Gaius interrupted her.  “And you already offer me apologies…?”

She flushed slightly under the yellow glow of the lantern nearby, lips still slightly wet from their kissing.  “Fine…” Kaida said to him, a bit sharper. “I only hope you don’t have any lofty expectations of me.”

Gaius gave a snort.  “I know full well what I have signed up for.  You will not find me so easily cowed.”  A slight hesitation in their conversation gave him the chance to lay the offer on the table.  “I should think the Ironworks will not expect us in the morning.  That would afford us time to…” A soft caress skirted along her cheek.  “… move this elsewhere or get some well-earned rest.”

Or both, I suppose.  Though something tells me that if we do move this to someone’s quarters, we will hardly get the rest we need…

“We… should rest, yes,” Kaida said with a nod.  “I’m sure Allie is wondering what’s taken you so long to return home…”

Oh.  He had not thought of that.  Allie would likely be beside herself with worry, knowing he ought to have been back already.  Gaius gave a nod to her.  One last kiss was shared—a fleeting but passionate little thing.  And then they made their way from the courtyard, checking the darkened Terncliff streets like robbers in the night.

The walk back to the inn was exhilarating with the sea-scented air billowing in gusts over the cliffside town.  Gaius bathed in the moment with her, a silence between them but it spoke volumes.  The Black Wolf was not so often taken to romantic fantasies but the night called like a siren.  His arms, already addicted to the touch of her, longed to wrap around her… but their vow of secrecy held him back and they carried on.  He was disappointed when the inn came into sight but knew that all good things had to come to an end.

To the average passerby, their entry into the inn would be no different than most days—two colleagues stepping inside the lobby before continuing to their rooms.  But as Gaius stopped at his door, he snuck a look at Kaida, who had done the same in return.  A small smile rested on her face, the tears in her eyes long faded.  It was a brief exchange but he held it close as he opened the door and stepped into his quarters.

“There you are!” came Allie’s cry, loud enough to ring down the hall.  He winced and hastily shut the door behind him.

His daughter rose from the couch and hurried to him.  Before he could react, her thin arms were around his torso, embracing him tightly.

“I was… I was so worried…!” Allie began, the tension in her voice implying an onset of tears.  He hugged her back, arms tight around her as he thought of how this moment had almost never come.  Gaius could not have blamed her for being cross with him.  She had lost too much already.

“Apologies,” he said softly.

“Cid told me everything,” Allie said when she let go of him.  Her eyes were watery and he could see she was trying to suppress her feelings.  But her nervousness shone through, her hands clutching onto each other at her chest, as if trying to guard her heart.  “What… what happened out there…?”

He ruminated on how to answer the question before deciding it was best if she sat down.  The two sat on the couch together, her eyes locked onto him in worry.  Gaius drew in a breath.  “There was a mutiny.  Cassius and I were left in the wilderness.  He was wounded.  Badly so.”

She drew in a breath, tense.

“The medics are seeing to him as we speak.  I imagine an update will come anon,” Gaius replied.  “The guards seemed more concerned with arresting him than preserving him enough to stand trial.”

Allie’s eyes fell, downcast with a shadowed thought.  Her lips pursed and then she remarked, a whisper.  “As if it would be much of a trial…”

She was not wrong about that.

“I don’t suppose…” Allie began.  “There’s a way to deter them from wanting one, is there?”

Gaius shifted uncomfortably.  The answer was likely no.  But he could try to see that Cassius at least lived.  Convincing the Werlytians to spare him, however, would be no easy feat… he wondered if Kaida could help in that.  If she would be willing to help with that.

“It’s stupid,” Allie said, tone scathing.  “It seems like people here sometimes care more about spilling more blood instead of trying to make things better.”

Gaius remained silent.  It was not his place to agree and he understood that.  She carried on, arms folded.

“There’s a lot of Garlean soldiers in the Werlytian prison, you know…” Allie began.  “And the things they say about some of them… I wonder what… they’d do… if they found out the pilot of Mark II willingly enlisted all those years ago…”

Another fault of mine.

“You were young,” Gaius began.

“And so were some of the people sitting in that prison,” Allie said.  “People who just thought they were doing what was right, people who were tricked… They weren’t all like Valens.  But I suppose Valens is all the people here see now when they look at the Garlean banner…”

Valens… and the Black Wolf.

But he did not say it.

This was a part of the complexity of life and she was still young yet.  

“I can’t blame them,” Allie continued quietly.  “Things here… they were horrible.  It was all so horrible… And yet... People talk so much as if the war is black and white.  My siblings… everything they did was for Werlyt.  For a cause they believed in.  But they wore the Empire’s colors too, didn’t they?  We all joined for a good cause… But that cause brought a lot of pain.  Not just for me… for a lot of people… Sometimes, I look at the people the Werlytians talk about so hatefully… and I wonder what really separates me from them.  Didn’t I volunteer to march under that banner?  Didn’t I swear oaths to the Emperor…?”

“Allie…” Gaius started, a sigh on his breath.  “Some of the imprisoned were complicit in Valens’s crimes.  And not out of self-preservation—out of their own malice and cruelty.  Those people must be held responsible.”

Who knows how many were butchered to give the Weapons life…

“I want them to be,” Allie said firmly.  “Of course I want them to be.  But they can’t go executing every Imperial they come across.  The VIIth… was made more of hostages than of soldiers.  The legatus saw to that… ugh.  Sorry, Father… I’ve been here rambling and you’re probably tired after everything that happened… I’ll find where they’ve taken Cassius tomorrow and… and see if there’s something I can do…”

“I will do all that I can as well,” Gaius reassured her.  “And you need not apologize to me for speaking your mind.”

“I’ve been… thinking a lot,” Allie admitted.  “Avilina and I both have.  Just about everything that happened.  It’s difficult not to.”

He gave a nod.  “I understand.”

Allie lifted her chin, voice wavering slightly with emotion, “Everything seemed clearer when the others were still alive.  The mission was all that mattered… But I have to remember the mission’s not done yet.  Not until things are back to how they should be.”  Her eyes turned to him, softening.  “Promise me you won’t leave until it’s done.  When Cid called, I… I was scared you’d go.  Like the others…”

She looked down again.  He had no words for her.  Another embrace and he felt her break slightly in composure.  The sound of it killed him inside.  He wondered how he could have ever thought it would have been fine to leave her alone like this.

“S-sorry… sorry…” Allie said when they broke apart.  “I really should let you get some rest.”

“I can stay up if it is needed,” Gaius replied adamantly.

“No.  I don’t want to ask that of you,” Allie shook her head.  “Besides, I should be heading to bed shortly too.  I’ve got some orientation stuff tomorrow for the Mark II.  Gotta make sure I’m ready to go for the big day…”

“A wise decision.  I have full confidence you will do well tomorrow.”

She mustered up a smile.  He rubbed the top of her head with his hand, gave her a fatherly kiss atop the forehead, then resolved himself to get some rest.  Gaius thought about a shower to cleanse himself of the dirt and grime of the wild but his body ached for slumber.  He went towards the bed inside his room, thinking briefly over Allie’s small rant and the events that had transpired in the courtyard.  His emotions had run dry like a well that had been overused.  He swiftly got ready for sleep, pained, exhausted and knowing there was only a precious handful of hours to rest.  There was much to think on and the morrow promised to be frantic. 

Kaida was somewhere between bluescreening and on cloud nine as she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling with the soft yellow light of the lamp next to her bed illuminating the room.  She had gotten ready for bed quickly, having been too tired to even contemplate a meal after the hectic day.  She had snacked one some dried berries and nuts then had laid down, snug in her sleepwear and tucked under some covers.

Gaius was on her mind—of course he was on her mind, he was always on her mind it seemed.  The taste of him, the feel of him… she mulled over it, terrified and elated, her heart thrumming a quick beat against her chest.  How the hells she was going to keep this hidden was beyond her but she was inspired to do so by the what-if scenarios that played in her head.  What if the Scions kicked her from their organization?  What if her fellow Warriors of Light found out?  What would they say to her?  What would Lyse say to her?  The frightening scenes she concocted cemented the need for secrecy and so she resolved herself to set rules for herself.  She could not act overly interested in anything to do with the Wolf and she could not extend her time in Terncliff.  The Scions would expect her to return and continue the fight against the Telophoroi within the next few days.  She was not sure how she would manage to sneak back and see Gaius again.  Especially with Tataru hounding her about finances…

I could do some adventurer work.  Pick up some coin for the ferry myself, Kaida thought.  I could bring Gaius too, since he’s so experienced as an adventurer now… we could…we could go together…

It was a cute fantasy.  Her anxiety ruined it instantly.

No, that’s insane.  What if people saw us?  Ugh, I’d never hear the end of it…

She contemplated disguises but it seemed too over-the-top then to even try it.  Kaida told herself to hit up Mother Miounne the next time she was in Gridania.  Some extra spending money would be nice in general, even if it was not being spent to sneak off to see her boyfriend (oh by the fucking kami… boyfriend… that sounded so weird to her).  Her wallet had been a bit empty since the last time she had upgraded her armor. 

Kaida rolled over in the bed and that was when she saw the letters from before.  Seeing them was like whiplash, sending a stake of momentary panic through her when she thought of Arnvidar’s funeral.

Ahhh in all of the chaos today, I forgot all about that.  It’s at the end of the week… if I want to make it to Gridania with time to spare, I need to leave the day after tomorrow… Cid and Nero should understand, I think.  Besides, I’m only filling in until they have actual pilots and that should be soon.  I’ll need to let Tataru know as well.

Kaida decided she would tell them about it tomorrow morning.  She could offer to fund the excursion herself so Tataru would not have to worry about booking and spending more gil on her.  Kaida thought to her wallet then thought to her earlier inner conversation about how she needed more cash.  Terncliff was a quiet town but wherever there were people, there were problems.  If Cid did not need her early in the morning, she told herself to go looking for something to earn a quick few gil.  Maybe Terncliff had its own type of Adventurer’s Guild where she could get a lead on something.  She stewed on the idea then rested her head back onto her pillow.

It seemed like there was much and more to do.  Yet Kaida found herself strangely undaunted by it all.  Her chest felt lighter and when she turned off the light, she found her thoughts wandering to the room down the hall, where Gaius no doubt lay in his own bed.  She smiled into the dark and nestled into her covers.  There was a giddiness in her heart that Kaida Asagiri could not deny.  It was quiet enough to lull her into rest but loud enough to drown out her anxiety.  A blessed respite after a long, long day.

Chapter Text

“What do you mean you’ve gotta go tomorrow?” Cid asked her in disappointment, arms crossed. 

Kaida sighed.  She had been afraid of this.

Breaking the news to everyone that she was going to Gridania for a funeral was not particularly a pleasant task but Kaida handled it with her typical Warrior of Light confidence.  Tataru had taken the news semi-well when she had called that morning.  Having to attend a funeral was unexpected, after all, and the lalafellin receptionist had been understanding.  Kaida’s offer to pay for everything herself had helped tremendously, though Tataru had reprimanded her that to help with funds, she could start by taking up some sort of craft.  The Raen deliberated on the idea.  Sewing had been taught to her as a child but she had loathed it, pricking her own fingers often and drawing blood.  She wondered if she remembered enough to try again.  Maybe as an adult, she would be less clumsy… or so she thought for a fleeting moment before realizing she was kidding herself.  She was still the same uncoordinated person she had been back then.  Just taller.

Cid seemed to be cross with her and she hated that—she hated disappointing people.  But as much as she wanted to stay, she knew there were other places she had to go.  Momentarily, she contemplated sending her shadow to Gridania in her stead… but no, that would have likely terrified the funeral-goers more than helped.  And she was not sure she could keep up the concentration for the spell that long and over such a distance.

“I’m sorry, Cid,” Kaida said to him.  “Something unexpected came up.  A friend of mine passed away and I want to go to his funeral.”

Cid’s eyes softened and his head bobbed with a nod.  “Aye… unfortunate but I understand.  We’ll make use of you while we have you, I suppose.”

“I could always come back after the funeral,” Kaida offered.

“I would not want to impose too much upon you.  In fact, returning may not even be necessary.  We almost have everything wrapped up with the pilot selection for the Mark I,” Cid said.  “I’ll have Avilina message you if something comes up that requires your immediate attention.  I’ll be heading out to Bozja soon anyways.  Mikoto and Lilja have been out there working hard alongside the Resistance but they need my help with something.”

“Understood,” Kaida said, a little remorseful that her time in Terncliff was coming to a close.

“One last trial tonight,” Cid said with a nod.  “Hopefully we won’t be called into action again.”

“Hopefully,” Kaida echoed with a slightly absent-minded nod.

But that was the end of that conversation and the day was still young.  The previous night had been restful but she had woken up restless with so much to do.  Flashbacks from her meeting with Gaius played over and over again in her head, merciless and taunting.  What a poor stroke of luck that it was that they should decide to start dating the minute her time seemed to be up in Terncliff.  But such was life and she told herself she could not let anything interfere with her duty as a Warrior of Light…

… Even if maybe she wanted to tell Tataru that something had come up and she had to stay a bit longer.

It was a problem to deal with later, she told herself as she exited the Ironworks hanger, clad from head-to-toe in her armor.  Silver armor did little to keep out the brisk seaborn chill but its weight made her body toil a little bit more than normal, forcing her to exert herself.  With Deathbringer slung over her back, she went to the place that all adventurers generally made their way to when seeking work.

The Terncliff tavern came into sight before long, its doors propped open to let in the pleasant fresh air.  A bard strummed their lute upon a small stage, a few adventurers gathered in clusters around tables.  Most of them seemed Eorzean, taking advantage of the town’s newfound freedom in hopes they could be hired on as additional help.  Kaida felt their eyes upon her as she walked by, Deathbringer’s glow upon her back not inconspicuous.  She carried on towards the board, not meeting their eye, her horns softly detecting the whisper of their gossip but not quite enough to discern what words were being said.  Her eyes fell on the board in front of her, hands at her hips and green eyes flitting up and down the posters.

Most of these are hunts.  I don’t suppose they have an established clan here…

Her eyes danced around the poster then spied the insignia of Clan Centurio. 

So their reach has extended here as well.  All the better, I suppose.  Rewards typically entice adventurers after all… though I’ll admit, I would rather be paid in gil than in Centurio Seals…

She teetered as she looked over the job listings— rocking from heel-to-toe.  It took a few moments to find a listing that had a decent size gil reward.  It was a collection of morbols hanging about the northern fringe of town.  Their presence there had caused the locals quite a bit of difficulty—they were preying off of livestock and any unfortunate travelers that crossed their path.  Kaida took the poster into hand, looking over the details as she nibbled her lower lip in thought.  Ten-thousand gil to kill morbols seemed like a steal.  She wondered why none of the others had taken it yet.  The Raen pivoted on one foot and turned away from the board.  One step and suddenly her nose was perilously close to something— a shirt, she soon realized.  Her neck craned back.

Gaius stood behind her, staring down with a passive set of amber eyes.  An indiscernible expression was on his face.  A quick gander was given to the posters then his gaze fell back upon her eyes again.

“Gaius!” she exclaimed, perhaps too excitedly.  Kaida caught herself, sharply recalling their vow to keep their relationship well-hidden from the public eye.  She straightened her posture, lifting her chin, trying to remember how to be a Warrior of Light before being a thrilled girlfriend.

“Going somewhere?” he asked lightly.

“I figured I would spend the day being productive,” Kaida replied simply after clearing her throat.  “Some extra spending money is sorely needed.”  She gave pause then added.  “I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

That statement was said so innocently but it birthed a tension between them.  He nodded, understanding.  But there was an undeniable dissatisfaction written on his face.

“The funeral,” he guessed and she gave a nod.

“I don’t know when I will be able to return,” Kaida added and when the words came out, she felt a poignant burn in her chest.  What unfortunate timing.  If only she had not been such a fool earlier, they could have spent more days together…  She massaged her forehead tenderly, wishing he would come with her.  Those passive, calm eyes stared into hers, unflinching but morose.  She felt herself mentally tip over, falling into them, drowning in the golden of his irises.

And then, she said quietly, “Come with me to Gridania.”

Unbidden.  Involuntary.  It scared even her to say it.  But as soon as she invited him, there was no taking it back.  She found herself not wanting to.  Another moment of throwing caution into the wind.  Another fracture in the façade.

He chuckled, a pleasant growl accompanied by the telltale upturn of the right edge of his mouth.  Kaida shifted slightly, eyes tracing shape of his lips for a moment, forgetting herself.  Silently, the Raen admonished herself.  They were in public and she already knew people had been watching her.  She had to play it off and she did so with a cool shift, striding past the Black Wolf with the poster still in her hands.  The next time she spoke, it was a tad louder.

“Well, I’ve work to do, Wolf.  And before you ask, I’m not willing to split the reward.”

There.  That’ll make it seem like we’re more colleagues than anything that some might consider to be unprofessional.

A small, amused scoff chased her.

“And if I were to beat you to your quarry?”

Excuse me?

She stopped, turned, faced him.  Her eyes flitted over his stoic features, scrutinizing them.

“Are you challenging me?”

That quirk in his smile threatened to dismantle her but she held fast for the performance. 

“Mayhaps.”

“And what need do you have for this gil, pray tell?”

He shrugged and approached her, closing the distance in a few quick strides.  A hand was clapped on her shoulder in passing as he carried on.  She could feel his confidence radiate from their brief touch, her head swinging after him as he strode past.  Kaida realized that he was already geared for adventuring, clad in his standard Shadowhunter gear with Heirsbane strapped to his back.  No look was tossed in her direction.  Yet, Kaida followed, pulled in like a magnet with no hope of resisting.  They exited the tavern, stepping into the morning light with eyes no doubt following them after their exchange.

Gaius’s long legs gave him the advantage to outpace her easily while walking.  Kaida jogged after him, Deathbringer clunking noisily against the back of her armor.   The Black Wolf did not pay her mind in the slightest, keeping his gaze dead ahead as the two of them carried on down the cobblestone street towards the northern Terncliff gates.

“So what is this really about?” Kaida asked him when the tavern had long disappeared behind them, unsure if he had been serious about his challenge.

“You suspect duality?” Gaius inquired in a light, nearly mocking tone.

She huffed.  “You’re telling me you came to that tavern specifically for that job?”

“I saw a curious sight and opted to pursue it,” he replied.

“Is it curious for an adventurer to take on adventuring work, Gaius Baelsar?” she asked.

He tilted his head slightly— just enough to catch her in his left peripheral.

“It is curious when it is a Warrior of Light who wishes to take on such menial labor,” Gaius answered.

“Contrary to the belief, I am not below beast-killing,” Kaida said.  “It’s what the sword is for, in case you forgot.”

“Should you not be resting after yesterday’s events?” Gaius asked.  “And what of earlier this week, when you decided to all but waltz into a series of Garlean lasers?”

She scowled at him.  “What do you take me for?  My wounds are mostly mended and I’m well enough to handle some morbols.”

“Do not test your limits, Kaida Asagiri,” came his rebuttal.

“I’m not the one who was kidnapped,” Kaida retorted stubbornly.

He scoffed, a playful glint in his eyes.  “Kidnapped?  I hardly think that’s the word for it.”

“Fine then.  Taken captive,” Kaida waved her hand dismissively.  “I don’t care for semantics.  I want to know if you’re trying to compete with me in earnest.”

Gaius paused for a moment, facing her.  He looked thoughtful, chewing on an internal dialogue for a few moments before admitting, “I was hoping to see you at work.”

She faltered for a moment.  “What?”

“You are surprised?” Gaius asked, voice softening.  “I find naught else more inspiring.”

She winced.  So forward.  And in such a public setting, too! 

Unsure of how to respond, Kaida gave a huff— this one, less convincing.  Her performance was slipping once more and she feared someone would notice.  She fell back on her instincts and they told her to flee.  And so she did, in her own way, turning and walking with a single order barked over her shoulder.  “Come, then.  Help me fight the morbols.”

The company will be nice.  Being away from the city and any prying eyes will be even nicer… and maybe a part of me likes the idea of him watching me fight.  If that’s what suits him.

He nodded and the two of them made their way to the northern gates, where the golden grass stretched before them, waving under a gentle breeze.  The guards let them pass through with some scrutiny directed at Gaius.  Soon enough, Terncliff fell out of sight and the two were enveloped by the stillness of the wilds. 

Once more, Kaida thought of how she was remiss to have not brought her chocobo.  Enji would have been a nice convenience to bear them to their location swiftly but alas, she had not thought to be doing adventuring work in her downtime.  She held the poster in her hand for a few moments, thinking hard about where her prey was located.  The listing said the morbols frequented a river on the far side of the Terncliff farmlands known as the Wife’s Tears.  Kaida was dimly aware that the name was connected to some legend— a sob story, if she had to guess.  It wound across the plains, piercing through thickets and meadows like an azure ribbon.  That was the extent of her knowledge of it, however.  She glanced sideways at Gaius, wondering if he was more familiar.

“The area we’re headed to—”

“Outside the farmlands.  The morbols will be located in a wetter part of the riverbank or near flora,” Gaius said passively.  “Tis their preference, wetter areas.”

“… You’re a morbol expert now, are you?” Kaida asked.

“I have hunted a fair amount,” Gaius replied.  “There are a few places in mind we could check to see if they have congregated… or did you mean to scour the entire river on foot?”

Kaida flushed.  She did not want to admit that had been her current plan in lieu of not understanding the geography of the area around her.  But she did not dare say it— she knew it was foolish.  The Raen blew a twig of teal hair from her eyes.

“I was going to pick spots that seemed the most likely.  Or are you questioning my methodology, Wolf?”

“I did not mean to come across as such,” Gaius replied.  “I know better than to assume I know better than a seasoned veteran of this industry.  You have been adventuring since your early days in Eorzea, I am told.”

“By whom?” Kaida asked.  “Your spies from your old legatus days?”

“That would be telling,” Gaius responded and the Raen shot him a disbelieving look.

“I think not, given I’m the subject of your conversations allegedly.”

“You’re the subject of many things, Kaida Asagiri.”

Many… conversations?

She stared at him for a few moments, rubbing the back of her neck in thought.  “That does not particularly sound like a good thing, you know.”

Gaius gave a rumbling, soft hum in thought.  “And yet it is the truth, whether you will it or no.”  A few steps passed in silence.  Then he said, “Tell me of those days.  When you first came to Eorzea.”

“I came to Eorzea when I was a teenager.  I took a boat from Kugane to Limsa Lominsa then I made my way to Gridania.  Arnvidar… he was one of the first people I met when I stepped off that chocobo carriage.  He took one look at my sorry arse and knew I was in way over my head.  I could barely even speak Common at the time.  Arnvidar and a few others helped me get signed up as an adventurer.  The company he was a part of had an opening for a healer and I did my best to fill it.  We had some good times.  But then Carteneau happened.  Most of the company… they didn’t make it.”

She saw him pause, searching her face silently.  He gave a small, curt nod.  Kaida took a few more steps down the road, letting the wind make her twintails dance.

“The rest of us disbanded.  I stayed in Gridania.  I did not want to go back to adventuring for a bit so I continued my lessons under E-Sumi-Yan.  The Adders hired me on as a freelancer every so often.  The gil was nice.  I ended up trying adventuring again after a few years, alone this time.  That was… a little bit before Operation Archon,” Kaida continued.  “I met Lyse and Papalymo and through them, the Scions.”

“I see,” was all Gaius Baelsar said, pensive and chewing upon his thoughts.

She studied his expression.  “How much of that did you already know?”

“All of it,” he said simply and she wryly smirked at the tips of her boots.  He continued, “But it’s different coming from you.”

She was not sure how she felt about that.  Where was he getting all of his information from?  She crossed her arms at her chest.

“When do I get to learn more about the illustrious Black Wolf?”

He let out an amused chuckle.  “What would you wish to know?”

“I suppose I could ask you your favorite drink and color…” Kaida began.  “It seems a tad odd that we’re…” Dating.  “… together and I don’t even know that about you.  But since you decided to poke a deeper topic, I think it only fair that I do the same.”

His expression shifted slightly in apprehension.  “And what would you ask?”

“Why did you sign up for the Garlean military?” Kaida asked.

“My family name has long been linked to the military,” Gaius replied.  “My father and his father before me both served for nearly the entirety of their lives.  My brother as well.”

“You have a brother!?” Kaida gasped.

Gaius gave a snort.  “Your surprise bewilders me.”

“I’ve never heard you mention anything about your family.  Other than your children,” Kaida said.

“My parents are both long buried.  My brother’s a disgrace to the Baelsar name and was discharged from the military for cowardice.  My sister married well and lives in the capital with her two children,” Gaius replied.

In the capital… I hope they’re safe.

Before she could comment on that, Gaius continued on.  “The next inquiry appears to be mine.  When last we spoke of your career in the Ruby Sea, you referred to yourself as a shrine maiden.  Do you consider yourself one still?”

“I didn’t say you got to ask a second question, Baelsar,” Kaida chided him gently.

“And yet as we walk this road, there is precious little else to do.”

“… Fine.  Sometimes, I like to think of myself as a shrine maiden still.  But I would have aged out by now.”

“A shrine maiden is… forbidden from courting, you said.”

Kaida did not meet his eye.  “Yes.”

“… So you are presently breaking your vows.”

“I don’t need the reminder, Gaius.”

“… Very well.”

“Next question,” she remarked.  “What’s your guilty pleasure?”

“… I beg your pardon?”

“Oh you know.  Something you enjoy that you’re ashamed of enjoying.”

“I scarcely feel shame at all about what I enjoy.  The opinion of others matters little.”

“How boring.”

“I apologize for disappointing you.”

A few minutes passed and then Gaius shot her a look from the corner of his eye.  His pace slowed to a stop.

“We are out of sight of the gates, it would seem.”

There was a small smirk on his lips.  She scrutinized it. 

“And what are you implying, ser?”

The hand that found her cheek was softer than she thought it would be.  It froze time, locking the world into that moment and bleeding everything around them away.  She wanted to scream at the way it stole her breath—just that simple touch.  Her hands had felled gods, had liberated nations, and yet… and yet…

He bent in to kiss her and she was weak-kneed.  That part of her that wanted to resist the feeling held its tongue.  She let it pass over her like a cloud over the sun.  It was as bewitching as it was addictive and she leaned into him, yearning for a closeness that transcended the touch of flesh.  Her scaled forehead pressed against his third eye and both of their eyes drew to each other—giddy in a sense and sparkling in wonder.  It was magic without aether.

But then Kaida remembered herself and their surroundings.  Though she could see no one on the road in front of them, she felt vulnerable out in the open. 

“We are… we are still on the road,” Kaida cleared her throat.  “Maybe we should save this for… later.”

Oh that sounded a bit more suggestive than I meant.

One of the Wolf’s brows rose in interest.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Kaida said to him, trying not to smile guiltily and losing that battle.

A twinkle of mischief lay in the deep, rich gold of his eyes.  But he said nothing of it and the two of them continued down the road.  But that kiss lingered on her mind, lips tingling softly where they had touched his.

I am Eorzea’s Little Dragon.

She snuck a glance at him from her peripherals.

… and I am dating the Black Wolf.

Her front teeth sank partially into her lower lip, redirecting her gaze back to the road ahead of him.

I won’t deny that I still feel guilty about this.  But a part of me is… relieved.

Life was such a strange path to tread, its winding and curving roads making hindsight a surreal thing.  Kaida reflected upon her grandmother and all the times she had told tales of Garlean Empire and their dreaded Black Wolf.  ‘The Black Wolf will come to eat your children!’  or ‘The Garleans will steal your homes’!  Kaida had thought they had just been stories to scare young ones into behaving.  Now, she admitted to herself that there was something appealing about the idea of being eaten by the Black Wolf… though perhaps in an alternative way than in the stories.

From the start, it seemed their paths were meant to converge.  From blades crossing to lips kissing. 

The kami are either laughing or crying right now.  Mayhaps a bit of both…

“If you are curious, Allie went to see Cassius this morning,” Gaius said to her, the subject change not unwelcome.  “I have yet to hear how he fares but I assume that no news means well enough.”

“Typically,” Kaida replied.  “I hope he makes it.”

“Do you not hate him?” Gaius asked in surprise.

“Oh, I do,” Kaida said.  “But he helped you escape so I suppose I can grant him a tad bit of credit.”

He smirked but the conversation died there.  Soon enough, the Wife’s Tears came into view in its winding, albeit lazy glory.  Sunlight sparkled off the ridges in the water like diamonds, flickering at them upon their approach.  Though the Werlyt area had seen an abundance of rain as of late, the river was most parched with the occasional puddle signaling where the water ought to have been.  The mud in the riverbed seemed thick and unpleasant to slosh through and so they opted to keep to the sides of the bank.  As they did, they looked for the morbols, trekking some way before the first one came into sight.

The creature was a tan-gold shade, blending with the grass.  Its rows of teeth were crooked, spaced unevenly.  Tendrils wrapped around a massive tree that had fallen into the muddy riverbed, the morbol seemed latched like a parasite to the log.  It clotted the mostly dry ravine, a host of skeletons sitting before it like macabre trophies.  Kaida saw cattle, chocobos, and a few hyur-like among its boneyard.  As soon as the morbol reared its head to look up at them, she grabbed Deathbringer’s hilt.  But then her eyes traveled beyond the log, noticing that the nasty beast was not alone— more of its ilk sat tangled among the broken and battered limbs of the branches. 

“A pity we did not bring a torch,” Gaius remarked.

“Not going to back down now, are you?” Kaida asked him and he snorted.

“I am not cowed by such.”

“Good.”

The sound of Deathbringer being unleashed from her sheath was like a song.  A flare of cyan blazed in her palms.  And then, without looking back at the Wolf, Kaida plunged blade-first at her foe.  The greatsword’s tip sank into the beast’s tentacled head, its tendrils yearning for her arms and legs for a split second before the pain registered.  With a wail, the beast began to sank, giving a few jarring twitches as it died.  Kaida followed it to the ground, Deathbringer lodged into its head until it breathed its final, foul breath.  She pulled her sword out as the beast gurgled, a stream of unidentifiable ooze cascading from between its teeth.  Her eyes drew up, where the other morbols were untangling themselves from the fallen tree with barbaric, permanent grins upon their face.

As they came for her, she heard the unmistakable bang of a gunshot.  The first faltered.  A second bullet into its tentacle legs felled it.  Kaida lunged forward, cleaving hard into the morbol’s upper jaw.  Deathbringer raked an opening into the savage flora’s maw, its tongue lashing out at her.  As one of its viney legs came down to slam into her, she blocked with her blade and countered with a heavy slash.  The limb flailed as it was cut free from the body.  Gaius jumped down next to her, reloading his gunblade as he did.  He ignited the next bullet with a Terminus Est, sending forth a blue X-pattern at the incoming morbols as Kaida finished off the wounded one in front of her. 

As the enemies recovered, Kaida dug into her magic reserves, spreading a barrier over herself.  She barreled into the next one, hearing Gaius tail her with his own blade swinging.  She saw a tendril grab his leg but he quickly severed it.  Another bashed into the shield she made, fracturing then breaking it.  As the limb came down upon her, she struggled to block it, managing to do so only by crouching low to the ground.  The seedkin pressed down hard against her and Kaida’s legs fought back until Gaius silenced the carnivorous plant with another Terminus Est. 

In a matter of minutes, the barbaric plants were largely subdued.  Kaida was about to comment to Gaius that it had been a relatively easy, uneventful fight.  But then the final one came— larger than the others.  It barreled towards them with impressive speed, twin vines slamming Kaida square in the chest.  As she flew backwards, the beast reared back with a roar.  A wet, boiling sound resonated from its gaping mouth.  Rising from its throat was an inky black liquid, bubbling like lava.  She looked up in time to see it start to spew at Gaius, the Garlean’s eyes flashing wide.

The fear that surged in her was near violent— it pulsed like a single heartbeat, loud against her pearlescent horns and coloring her vision a dark purple and bloody red.  The dark magic barrier that ate the blow was just enough to save him from it and Gaius was not foolish enough to question what just happened.  By the time he realized that he was spared the beast’s bad breath, he had gotten another Terminus Est prepped.  It soared back at the morbol, slicing deep into its flesh.  He followed it up with a series of slashes and stabs, implanting Heirsbane into the top of its head.  As it died, it flailed.  One of its tendrils slapped Gaius in the shoulder, staggering him.  Another grabbed at his arm, pulling it towards its mouth for a moment before its life withered away.  Kaida approached him in a jog, Deathbringer still in-hand.  She looked around, taking in the aftermath of the fight.  Barely a challenge— she was almost disappointed by that.  But still, she was glad that the seedkin would no longer pose a threat to the locals.

“You saved me,” Gaius said to her, flitting a bit of the morbol ooze from his sword onto the ground.  He turned and looked at her upon her approach, a careful look in his yellow eyes.

“It likely would not have killed you,” Kaida pointed out.  “Though you’d have been sick for a while.” 

“Yet still.  It was a misstep on my behalf to have been so poorly positioned,” Gaius replied.  “An embarrassment.”

“Oh stop,” Kaida said.  “If you feel that bad, you can make it up to me.”  His brow quirked.  She reassessed the way she had said that.  “Don’t get any ideas.”

“A tad late for such a suggestion,” Gaius replied, straightening his posture for a moment as he drew closer to her.  Chest-to-chest, they stood, the Black Wolf’s free hand reaching up to the Raen’s face.  His thumb rested upon her lower lip, a hungry look in his eyes.  “Tell me.  Do you regret yesterday?”

No.  Never.  Not in a million years.

“And why would I?” she asked.

He gave a purr-like chuckle and then bent in, kissing her upon the mouth so softly that she thought she would melt.  The Raen gave a small sway, her hand finding the fabric of his jacket and holding onto it to steady herself.  When they parted, they did so with a small, shared smile.  Kaida was taken aback by the rush it gave her, seeing him smile at her so tenderly with the each of them still gripping their swords laxly in their hands.  It clicked like a key that had found its lock, like a door opening.  Everything about it felt right and she basked in that warmth. 

It made her all the more upset when she realized these moments would come to an end soon.

“Come with me,” she said to him again—brash and reckless.  “To Gridania.  I mean it.”

He studied her face for a moment, debating his answer for a few minutes then nodding.

“If that is your wish.”

It was a terrible idea but Gaius was in it too deep to back out.

They made their way back to Terncliff in what he felt was a stupor but not an unpleasant one.  Thrice did their hands meet tentatively upon the road, clasping together with fingers interlaced.  The only witnesses to see them were the sky, the trees, and the stones underfoot.  They made for poor snitches, he thought, and so he relaxed himself into the fleeting moments they had until Terncliff came into sight.  The two of them broke apart then, keeping a respectable distance from each other as they came within sight of the gates.  They continued on in that fashion to the tavern, where Kaida turned in the poster with a vine she had taken from one of the morbol corpses as evidence of her victory.  None would doubt a Warrior of Light and none did.  Soon enough, she had her payment in-hand, though she extended half to Gaius as soon as they were outside.

“I care not for it,” he said dismissively, waving her off.

“You helped,” Kaida insisted.

“I volunteered.  And volunteers need not be paid,” Gaius shook his head.  “Take the gil.  May it grant you what you need.”

“Ferry for two to Gridania, I suppose,” Kaida said quietly, looking the sack of gil over.  “Are you sure Allie will be okay with you gone?”

“She will be,” Gaius replied.  “With her training imminent, I doubt she will even notice my absence.”

“Well, regardless, if it does not work out, I won’t be offended,” Kaida said.  “But having someone there might be appreciated.”

“I understand.”

I can talk to Allie this evening and have my gear packed.  There will be eyebrows raised but I will find a way to redirect her focus elsewhere.  I will, perhaps, intentionally fail to inform Severa and Valdeaulin of my departure…

“We have a few hours until Cid and Nero need us,” Kaida pointed out, disrupting his train of thought.  “What would you ah… want to do until then?”

Naught in public.  The exchange in the tavern will be enough to stir a rumor or two.

“Allie will have returned to my quarters by now,” Gaius said, measuring the time of day by a gander to the sun’s position in the sky.  “Do you have something in mind, champion?”

“Erm…” Kaida shifted.  “Nothing in particular but I suppose we should both pack what we will need for the trip though that won’t… take hours…”

She wants me in her quarters.  The devilish creature.

“Lead on.  Though I would stop by the medical facility before we go to the inn,” Gaius said.  “I mean not to stay long.  Just to see how Cassius fares.”

“The inn…” Kaida said, brimming with excitement but he saw that shame in her eyes.  She did not look at him, nibbling her lower lip and nodding.  “Right.  Let’s do that then.”

Fortunately, the medical facility Cassius had been taken to was en route to the inn they had been staying at.  The facility—made originally by the occupying Garleans—was filled with magitek, though a handful of local healers had been signed on to help out where they could.  Most of the technicians proficient in running the higher-level machinery had fled the area due to their Garlean heritage but some conscripts had remained behind, eager for true freedom but not so eager to abandon the area when people were in need.  Gaius walked through the front doors and felt eyes upon him immediately.  His expression was unchanging, gaze set firmly ahead and mouth curved slightly downward in an everlasting frown.

“H-h-how can I help you?” asked the lass at the front desk, an all but quivering in her boots highlander.  Her hands were clasped at her collarbone.

“I am here for the tribunus,” was all Gaius said and her head bobbed fervently in a nod.

“R-right… Room 20.  U-under… he’s under… under guard,” the highlander lass managed and Gaius nodded.

“My thanks.”

Gaius went for the room in question, listening as Kaida gave a meek but polite “hi” to the girl at the front before jogging after him.  Room 20 was down the hall and around the corner.  The Wolf’s nose picked up the sterile scents of the medical facility, crinkling slightly.  A few aids and healers passed them in the hall, not even bothering to hide their suspicious, accusing stares.  He kept his focus on the room numbers that flew by and eventually came to a stop at his destination.  Gaius reached for the door handle, not bothering to brace himself for the sight he was about to see.  As he went to turn the knob, it jammed—locked.  The ex-legatus felt a chill run down his spine.

“What is it?” Kaida asked.

“Locked…” Gaius frowned.

“She did say he was under guard,” Kaida pointed out.

The Black Wolf’s eyes narrowed then cast about the hall.

“Then where are the guards?” he growled to her and tried the knob again, more vigorously this time.

Let my fears not be realized…

“Gaius…” Kaida began a fraction too late. 

His foot slammed square into the door’s middle and its hinges buckled flimsily.  He stepped inside, chest already heaving with angered breaths and hand already reaching for Heirsbane.  Gaius’s fingers stopped just short of his gunblade’s hilt and he saw the two Terncliff guardsmen—both of them Raens-- staring at him wide-eyed.  They had been gagged with a sheet and cuffed to the bedpost with magitek shackles.  Gaius could see their weapons had been removed and the window was open, letting in a pleasant breeze that made the curtains dance.

“Seven hells!” Kaida exclaimed.

Gaius moved to the bound guards when he was done processing the scene.  The moment he ripped the sheet from their mouths, they began sputtering wetly.

“Where is he!?” Gaius demanded from them.  “And how the hells did this happen?”

“Gone… through window…” one of the guardsmen rasped.  “Pulled a gun…”

A gun!?

“Are either of you injured?” Kaida asked.

“Our pride’s a bit bruised,” the other said with a wince.  “But no, he did not shoot.  That would have alerted everyone in the facility.”

“How long ago did he flee?” Gaius asked.

“I… I cannot say,” the first guardsman said.  “Not quite an hour?”

He could be anywhere by now.

“The Werlytian guard will need to be informed,” Gaius remarked, casting a glance about the room.  The key to the shackles had been suspiciously left near the window and he walked to it, seizing it in-hand.

Cassius… A part of me fears you will go back to a life of crime.  And yet another part of me believes that you will find another path, free of the Empire and the chains you were bound by.

Gaius unshackled both of the guardsmen and they left at once to report the missing tribunus.  Kaida stared towards the window, thoughtful with her brows furrowed ever so slightly in concern.  She turned to look at him, sunlight reflecting in her eyes like the shards of a gemstone. 

“Should we go after him?” Kaida asked Gaius.

“There is little point in doing so,” the Black Wolf said with the shake of his head.  “He will be long gone from Terncliff and I have little doubt he will pose much of a threat as he is.”

“He certainly did not mind taking hostages,” Kaida pointed out.

“I am distinctly under the impression he did so out of panic,” Gaius replied.  “The authorities will keep an eye out for him.  There is little more we can do otherwise.”

“If he’s still injured…” Kaida began.

“A report last night informed me his wounds had closed, the bullet had been removed, and he was but sleeping off the pain,” Gaius said.

“Used our services until he could flee.  Clever.  How did he get a gun?” Kaida asked.  “It’s not like he was wearing much when he arrived here.  I struggle to think of how he could have had it this entire time.”

“A mystery to be certain but there have been guards stationed here since yesterday,” Gaius said after a moment of thought.  “He could have pulled one from someone not paying attention to their weaponry.”

“A whole gun!?  And no one noticed!?” Kaida asked in disbelief.

“Before I knew him, he was a pickpocket,” Gaius responded.

And a prostitute but I will refrain from telling her that.

“Unbelievable.  I wish we could do more but you may be right in that we simply came here too late.  If he has most of an hour ahead of us, even pained, he could have gone just about anywhere by now.  Even aboard a ferry,” Kaida frowned.  “Damn…”

“He is not… a bad person,” said Gaius after a moment, turning towards the door.  “But he was lost.  As many under the Garlean banner are.  Come.  Let us away from this place.”

Their return was made in a loaded silence.  The events at the medical facility had all but spoiled his appetite for lustful things but he did not know what else to do other than follow her back.  He tried to reassure himself that his disappointment and frustration would be short-lived but it persisted even as they approached her room in the inn—ever-so-careful to not look suspicious.  Gaius chewed on where Cassius had fled to as he stepped inside and the door was closed behind him.

“Erm… so,” Kaida began, looking around the room.  She had kept it mostly clean, save for a few errant pieces of clothing on the floor in the distant bedroom.  Hastily, Kaida kicked those under the bed then turned to face him.  “I… suppose I didn’t have much in mind.”

“You had something in mind?” Gaius asked and her eyes snapped wide.

“Ahhhh, nothing in mind, really!” Kaida began.  “I just… I don’t know.  It’s private here.  We can talk freely amongst… other things.”

“‘Other things’,” he echoed and her face blossomed into a rosy red.

“You are doing that intentionally—making things sound worse than they are,” Kaida huffed.

She is a nervous little thing when the doors are closed.  Mayhaps dancing around the subject is not the optimal approach.  We are not even a full day into this and I dare not push into territory that makes her uncomfortable… but perhaps laying all on the table would do her good.  At the least, put some worries to rest.  As amusing as it is to see her turn red in the face, we are adults and I would rather her not spend half her time fretting.  But I dare not broach the subject hastily… for her sake.

“Such was not my intention,” Gaius answered and she gave an audible snort.

She studied him for a moment.  “What do you have in mind?”

He was not sure he could tell her what immediately came to mind.  Not without her threatening to combust on-site.  Gaius waved such a notion aside, opening his arms to invite her closer.

“Come here.”

Kaida obeyed, looking enticed at the aspect of a hug.  He touched her arms gently, pulling her into an almost-hug.  His amber eyes took in that blend of trepidation and longing.  Gradually, one of his hands moved to beneath her chin, tilting her head up to look at him.  She was gorgeous and a part of him wanted her at once, armor ripped off of her body, bent over the bed and crying out into the sheets in lustful need.  But he knew better, thumb coursing over her lip.

Such a small thing… breakable at the clench of a fist but mighty enough to bring empires to their knees.

“Kaida,” he said to her, voice soft.  “You’ve my vow that I will not push you into territory that makes you uncomfortable.  All I ask is that you make your boundaries and desires known.”

“Under… understood,” she said in turn, barely above a whisper.

“Now tell me,” Gaius murmured, bending in close to her face.  “What do you desire at this moment?”

“You,” she said, the volume of her tone disintegrating and the look in her eyes glistening with uncertainty.

He lifted her chin back to meet his gaze.  “You are free to ask such.  And there is nothing to feel shameful over.”

“Who said I felt—”

“Kaida.”

“… All right.”

Their lips collided and any apprehension she seemed to have disappeared.  It was a struggle to kiss her as fervently as he wanted to while bent at the waist so his arms found her sides and scooped her up.  They were both still clad for adventuring and her armor was not particularly light in weight.  But the Black Wolf welcomed the challenge, thinking about how nice it would be bare her from her thick, protective plating and throw her onto the bed.  Her back slammed into the wall and his face bore close to hers, mouths pressed into a more passionate, rough kiss.  She gripped his shoulders and neck, fingers running through his hair.  The touch of her was like electricity from scalp to groin and he savored it, pinning her lustfully with the growing urge to nip at her guarded collarbone.  But as it was covered in a layer of metal, he opted for the side of her neck.  The noise that came from her was the mixture of a yelp and moan, body rolling into him with need.  And then he pressed further into her, feeling her legs wrap around his torso.

“Careful, hngh… the wall…” Kaida managed out between kisses.  “Don’t… damage it…”

“The armor,” Gaius said after a moment.  “Should come off.”

He almost hated saying that.  There was something that enticed him about enjoying her while she was still decked out in her Warrior of Light attire.  The armor suited her well and it served to remind him of her might—another notion that stoked more fire in him.  But he did not deny he wanted to take it off of her, to feel her curves more under his palms and drink in her figure.  It was a shame he could not have both at once.

“Right,” Kaida said breathlessly and he lowered her to the ground.  Just as soon as she started to undo one of the straps to her gauntlets, he grabbed her wrist.

“Permit me,” Gaius said to her, a small growl in his tone.

“S-Sure…” she replied.

His hands took the place of where hers had been, gingerly unbinding her forearm from its steel-clad prison.  The gauntlet thudded to the floor… then the other soon joined it.  And then he began to undo the ties to her breastplate.  Gaius caught it before it fell from her, gently putting it aside.  The shirt she wore underneath was white, long-sleeved, and covered the entirety of her torso.  Its fabric clung to each ilm of her, exposing her curves and muscle.  That was almost enough for him to stop but he continued with her boots and what armor rested on her legs until she was deprived of it all.  His hands coursed her sides.

A buzz sounded out from her pants pocket and Kaida winced as she drew her linkpearl out.  She held up a finger, indicating she needed silence.  Gaius let his hands fall and as she put the linkpearl to her horn.

“Yes?  Oh… Estinien,” Kaida began.  “Mm?  An emissary from Sharlayan?  … Oh… oh dear.  Ah… well, I’ll be in the Twelveswood soon, actually, though for a different sort of business…  Ah… well, in that case, I can try to be there.”

Her eyes danced to Gaius for a moment.

“… Yes, I’ll be alone.  Right.  Thank you.”

The linkpearl was placed on a nearby shelf and she rubbed her forehead.  “Never a dull moment, I suppose.”

“You are being summoned?” Gaius asked.

“It turns out an emissary from Sharlayan is being sent to Gridania.  We sent a message to the Forum asking for aid in dealing with the towers.  I… suppose them sending an emissary is a good sign.  Tataru wants me to attend the meeting since I’ll already be in the area,” Kaida said. 

“Should I remain here, then?  To avoid suspicion?” Gaius asked.

“No!” said the Raen, perhaps too hurriedly.  “It should be fine.  We’ll just… we’ll simply…”  A fervent tap was given to her chin.  “Ahhh we’ll just be careful, is all.  I don’t suppose you’ve many methods of concealing yourself…?”

“I will find a way,” Gaius reassured her.

“If you don’t, I could… try casting a glamour on you,” Kaida suggested weakly.

He frowned, not entirely sure he knew what that meant or that he liked it.

“It’s really the Scions that don’t need to see you.  Or the other Warriors of Light,” Kaida sighed.  “But we will make it work.  I’m sure of it.”

Are you?  Or are you trying to convince yourself you can make it work?

The mood was, unfortunately, dampened by the news of the meeting.  He could tell much was on her mind, though he decided to not pry too heavily in what she was mulling over.  Instead, the two of them settled onto the couch and Gaius thought perhaps it was better this way.  Kaida offered him tea and he accepted.  The inn room was furnished with a tiny kitchenette that had enough of a stove to heat up the nearby kettle.  The two of them soon had small cups in hand of a leafy blend local to the area.

“I do apologize for the interruption,” Kaida said to him as she sipped from her mug. 

“There is nothing to apologize for,” Gaius replied.

She cast a thoughtful look into her mug for a moment then remarked, “It feels silly to say but I thought it would be more awkward.  Between us, I mean.”

He was not convinced it was not awkward to some degree.  But that she felt comfortable enough to say that meant that she was starting to relax.

“I’m… looking forward to taking you to Gridania.  I know you have likely been there before, what with being an adventurer and all but… maybe I can show you around some of my favorite places…” Kaida said, shooting him a bashful smile.

“Certainly,” Gaius replied.

Their conversations made the time pass like nothing at all.  From topics such as their favorite weather to Gaius chiding her once more for her antics in Castrum Collinum to Kaida insisting that she could teach Gaius how to ride a chocobo -- the hours flew and before long, Gaius realized that only two hours remained until they would be needed back at the Ironworks hanger.  He rose, setting his cup down. 

“I will pack and the both of us should eat before the trial,” Gaius said to her.

“We could eat… together?” Kaida suggested.

His mouth dipped ever so slightly with a frown.  Been seen too much together was risky but he supposed he could not deny the hope in her eyes.  “Very well.  Name the place and I will be there.”

A brief kiss was shared and then he cautiously slipped out of her room, making his way to his own. 

When he opened the door, he realized Allie was gone still.  That gave him a wave of relief; Gaius was not yet sure how he would spin his imminent departure to the Black Shroud to her without raising suspicion.  He reflected back on his conversation with his daughter where they had discussed going on a small vacation.  Leaving now felt a tad like betrayal but he swore he would make it up to her.  Kaida likely had connections in Costa del Sol.  As much as he was loath to ask for a favor already, he contemplated approaching her for advice.  Allie had been through much and perhaps a week away from it all would be welcome.

He thought about it idly as he packed his belongings.  Heirsbane was put into its case.  He carefully tucked away some spare clothes into a travel bag, along with some hygiene necessities.  Though he doubted there would be trouble in the Shroud, Gaius was a man that always prepared for anything.  He reached under the bed, grabbing a secondary case that housed his pistol.  It was an old Garlean model, no longer in production.  Solus had gifted it to him once for his nameday but sentimentality had led Gaius to keep it on the off-chance something happened to his gunblade.  He pulled the case out, brow crinkling as he noted its lightness.  Odd.  The gun was usually heavier than this.

His stomach twisted into a knot suddenly, a premonition that turned his blood cold.  Wordlessly, the Garlean undid the straps to the gun’s case, each click resounding loud in the empty inn room.  He paused before he opened the lid, drawing in a fearful inhale.  When he looked inside, his heart filled with confusion and apprehension.

The gun was missing, the velvet red of its interior outlining the shape that ought to have contained it.  But someone had plucked it from the case and Gaius knew not who it could have been.  Only he, Valdeaulin, Severa, and Allie even knew of the gun’s existence and Gaius was quite certain his traveling partners had never seen him store it under the mattress.  The Black Wolf studied the case for a few moments then closed the lid, digesting the eerie discovery carefully.  Where could it have gone?  Who could have taken it?  And why…?

Gaius heard the door open, along with a pleasant hum.  Allie—he knew her voice instantly.  Her key was dropped off onto a hard surface, making a loud metallic clang. 

“Father?  Are you home?” she called.

Has she been out all day?  Right, she did tell me she had orientation stuff soon.  She also went to visit Cassius at the –

His eyes flashed wide.

“Gone… through window… Pulled a gun…”

The guardsman’s words echoed in his mind.  Fighting back a growl, Gaius put a hand to his forehead.  Kaida had been right when she said there was no way Cassius could have smuggled a gun in on his own.  At first, Gaius had been so willing to believe he had simply stolen it off a guard.  But now that he thought on it, the guards had not even been carrying guns.  Someone would have had to have brought it in somehow.  And he knew exactly who had been visiting the imprisoned tribunus prior to his escape.

She planned this.

“Oh!  There you are!”

Allie’s soft footsteps came up behind him and he felt her suddenly throw her arms around his neck.  He prayed she did not feel the way his heartrate had risen.  Hastily, he shoved the empty gun case under his bed.  One of his hands patted her forearm affectionately but his amber eyes glared ahead.

Allie.  What have you done?

Chapter Text

“And that’s a wrap!” chimed Cid’s voice over the intercom as the final ADS deactivated.

Under Gaius’s trained hands, the G-Savior glided over the dark azure waters, coming to an eventual stop in front of its defeated enemy.  Kaida sat back in her chair, breathing out an exhale she had not even known she had been holding.  With the conclusion of the fight simulation, her time test piloting the G-Savior was over-- something she could scarcely believe.  Though her time in Terncliff had been brief, it felt as though it had been forever.  The coastal town was her own limbo; time seemed to have been brought to a standstill there while the rest of the world carried on.  She wondered how it would feel to step from the pilot’s seat back into her Warrior of Light duties.  How would everything that transpired over the last few days color the world she had momentarily left behind?

“Excellent!  We’ve all the data we could have hoped for.  Return to the hanger.  You’ve done well!” Cid said and Gaius responded by turning the mech around.  The thrusters were hit, the warmachina was angled skyward and the two of them began their ascent in a comfortable quiet.

Her hands dropped gradually from the controls, falling into her lap.  It was over, she thought to herself over and over again, a sadness in her chest but an excitement for whatever lay ahead.  Once, someone had told her that life was just a book.  The close of one chapter meant the start of another.  She tried to think of her life similarly; there had been the Ruby Sea, then there had been Gridania, then everything after Carteneau, then the Scions, then the Dragonsong War, then…

The list went on and on.

Softly did her emerald eyes fall upon the back of Gaius Baelsar’s head, a secret yet warm smile crossing her lips in thought.  What sort of chapter would this one be?  She could only hope it was the best one yet but given the state of the world, the odds were certainly not in their favor.  But Kaida Asagiri had never been one to back from a challenge.  Maintaining her Warrior of Light role while engaging in midnight excursions to see the Black Wolf would be a dance she would have to master immediately or risk it all blowing up in her face.  She was well aware of that.  Her anxiety had not stopped whispering dark hypotheticals since the moment they had kissed.  But what was life if not battling anxiety—she had known that battlefield since her earliest years when her mother had expected her to be a perfect, agreeable little doll.  Kaida would bear it.  She would swallow it.  She would lift her chin and carry on.

Terncliff came into sight and with it, the hanger.  Gaius’s piloting was smooth as warmed butter, guiding the mech into the opened hanger and having it touch down.  Light as a feather until the warmachina’s feet hit, metallic knees working slightly to maintain its balance.  Kaida undid her seatbelt and Gaius did the same.  He rose, hesitating for a moment as their eyes met.  There were a lot of things unsaid in the look they shared.  She drank in the tenderness about his expression, the way the light reflected off his gilded irises like twin suns.  And then the G-Savior’s cockpit opened and she saw Cid and Nero standing there, waiting for them to climb out.  Behind them were cheering engineers, some with mugs.  At first, the Raen thought they had busted out a keg of beer but her nose twitched at the scent of coffee.  She smirked.  Was there any hour of the day where the Ironworks engineers didn’t drink coffee?

They vacated the G-Savior’s cockpit and Cid greeted them with a brimming smile.

“Everything’s in order on our end, it seems!  We’ve enough data to make sure both Mark I and Mark II will be fit to defend Werlyt in case of any attack.  And, I don’t know about you two, but I think this calls for a bit of a celebration,” Cid said jovially.

“A celebration?” Kaida asked, eyes widening.

“Yes!  Dinner, on the Ironworks.  I cannot thank the two of you enough for helping us out,” Cid replied.  “It might not be suitable payment for the job but I hope it’ll suffice to at least convey my gratitude.”

“I won’t say no to a meal,” Kaida smiled at him.

“Nor shall I,” Gaius responded.

The place where Cid took them was a restaurant that prided itself in multicultural dishes.  Kaida was sat between Cid and Gaius—a perilous place to be if the two had not mostly reconciled.  Next to them, she felt like an ant, sandwiched between two mountains.  On the other side of Cid sat Nero and she almost felt a pang of pity for her white-haired friend.  The other Ironworks engineers sat across the table from them, boisterously purchasing alcohol, which Kaida was not sure would pair well with the coffee they had just inhaled prior to the G-Savior’s landing.  Cid rubbed his forehead, mumbling about the cost of the dinner and how Jessie was likely going to strangle him.  Nero ordered a fancy lemonade and sipped it with an ever smug expression on his face, as if delighting in his colleague’s misery.  Kaida had no doubt he was.

“I see a fair number of Doman dishes on the menu,” Gaius remarked.  “Thavnairian as well.  It seems this place prides itself upon menu diversity.”

“I would order some Doman food but I do question the authenticity this far from Othard,” Kaida replied.

The Black Wolf lifted a brow.  “I did not know you were so particular.  Though having been to Doma myself, I would say I do not fault you for being apprehensive.  Nothing compares to an authentic Doman dish.”

“And when did you go to Doma?” Kaida asked, glancing sideways at him.

“I have been there on several occasions.  In my youth and more recently,” Gaius responded passively.

“If you want my recommendation, their Thavnairian dishes are quite good,” Cid chimed in.  “And don’t feel the need to pick something cheap.  The meal is for you, of course, and it would not do for you to skimp out on your own celebration.”

“Your wallet is feeding a lot of mouths,” Kaida pointed out.

Cid’s shoulders rolled in a defeated shrug.  “Have to keep the masses appeased somehow, I suppose.  The interns would have quit otherwise.”

Kaida’s eyes danced between two options—a dodo curry and a salted cod.  She went with the curry, deciding at the last minute after the waitress showed up.  Cid forced her to order a tea as well and after the waitress departed with their orders, the Raen looked to Gaius.

“What’s Garlean food like?” she asked.

“Hot and usually with seafood,” Gaius answered dully.

“Seafood?  Is that why you don’t like fish?” Kaida asked, forgetting herself for a moment.  She felt Cid’s confusion radiating next to her, his silver eyes prying.  The Warrior of Light moved immediately into damage control mode.  “I just… ahh…. I remember you saying that.  In the cockpit.  The other day.”

“I never said I was averse to it.  In fact, I grew up a better portion of my life eating it.  One could say I became quite bored of fish.  No matter the style of cooking, any dish will become monotonous if consumed over and over again,” Gaius grunted.

“I never thought I would admit it but I did miss some of the food from back home when I moved to Eorzea,” Cid remarked.  “As much as the name makes me scowl, there was nothing like a bowl of Glory Be soup on a snowy day.”

“‘Glory Be soup’…?” Kaida inquired.

She felt Gaius’s unease.  Cid sipped his water thoughtfully.  “It’s an old tale.  Emperor Solus visited a military camp on a chilly, winter night to watch the soldiers perform in military exercises.  Afterward, they all dined together.  An Emperor with his subjects.  Not a very common thing to hear about.  They named the soup they all shared after the occasion.”

Kaida’s gaze lowered slightly, reflecting on what Emet-Selch had said in the hours before his defeat.  She thought about how he had tried to live life, unsundered in a world full of ghosts of people he had once known.  She thought about how they could have never measured up to his standards.  She thought about how he was probably looking for familiarity in the faces of those Garlean soldiers.  But to no avail.  What was gone could never come back.  And that he was willing to kill them all to try… It was infuriating.  It was heartbreaking.  It was a lot of things.  The Raen was not sure she knew how to feel about it at all.

“… I see,” was all she said.

“I heard about Cassius,” Cid commented a few moments later, after their dishes had been served.  Kaida looked down at her plate, which was a flood of meat, curry sauce, vegetables and rice.  Her stomach growled as she picked her fork up. 

“Yes,” Gaius commented, voice flat.  “A pity.”

“Suppose that’s the last we’ll see of him?  One of the healers at the medical facility let slip to me that he was still injured when he fled,” Cid said, dabbing at his beard with a napkin.  “I cannot say I blame the man for wanting to run.  But not many good places to run to out here.”

“Not much that can be done about that,” Gaius grunted.

“Did he… have news about the capital?” Cid asked.

Gaius hesitated for a moment.  “Nothing that we have not already heard.”

“I see,” Cid said grimly.

The next hour was spent dining and drinking and Kaida, who was a fair bit smaller than the majority of the company she was with, found herself full quite quickly.  Though Cid insisted she have a cocktail or two to celebrate, she waved the notion off.  But Cid, who would hear nothing of her protests, ordered her a drink anyways—a lemonade with some sort of alcohol in it.  Kaida sipped it timidly as the engineers pounded down their beers, growing rowdier with every passing minute.  She glanced at Gaius, who had been similarly forced into drinking a beer.  His yellow eyes brooded but she caught him smiling every so often at their loud company. 

By the time the celebration dinner was over, night had fallen over Terncliff.  The town lanterns had been ignited and soon enough, the partially-sober Ironworks members dispersed for the evening.  Kaida, freed from her duties but not quite tired enough to retire for the evening, walked the whitestone street.  The lanterns cast warm hues over the serene town and she marveled over the sight of it, stars dotting the blue-black heavens overhead.  She walked a few yalms and paused at the sound of footsteps behind her—soft padding, not attempting to be unheard.  When she turned around, she saw Gaius, unsurprised.  At once, she wanted to ask him if he would enjoy walking with her.  Yet another part of her chided her for being so foolish.  What if they were seen?  The smile dipped off her lips, fading.

Oh, you silly idiot.  You can’t just never see him in private and still call him your boyfriend.  … Boyfriend?  Partner?  Lover…?  Ack, definitely not that last one.  Definitely not yet, at least.

She paused.

‘Not yet’!?  He’d laugh if he heard me say that.

“Would you join me for a stroll, Lady Asagiri?” he asked politely.

… I suppose he had the same idea that I did.

“I told you, simply ‘Kaida’ is fine,” she teased but nodded to him, gesturing for him to come closer.

The two of them walked the outskirts of the town, the open sea to their left in its rolling and hissing glory.  She was too self-conscious to hold his hand, not until his bumped into hers.  A not-so-subtle gesture.  When his hand wrapped around hers, it was like an embrace—its size was enough to devour her tiny palm alive.  She cherished that warmth of him holding onto her.  It gave a tiny rosy tint to her cheeks.

Their peaceful wandering ended at a park bench overlooking the ocean.  The night was still, relaxed as she had ever seen it.  Involuntarily, her hand squeezed his.  By this time tomorrow, they would be in an inn in Gridania.  Half of her was still internally screaming at the idea of the two of them slipping away and even—kami forbid—sharing a room together.  The other half of her was elated, yearning for the morrow.

“And what has you grinning so?” he asked her and she realized she had been smiling into the horizon for a few minutes now.

“Ah!” she looked to him.  “I guess I was just… I’m just…”

I’m… excited.  And I can’t say how long it’s been since the last time I felt this way…

She thought of Haurchefant.  His memory came out of seemingly nowhere like a punch to the gut.  Her smile faltered slightly with the onset of guilt.  And then she remembered his final words to her.  She remembered he had always loved her smile.

“… I’m excited,” she confessed to him, the reflection on past times enough to dampen her expression slightly.  She fought through it.  “About tomorrow, I mean.”  Her brow creased slightly with thought.  “Don’t worry about the tickets.  I will pay for them with the money from the morbol job.  My only concern is…”

Her voice trailed and he waited.  She gave a soft hum.  “Well, I’m not sure how we’ll sneak you onto the ferry.”

Invisibility could work… Ahhh but only G’raha knows that spell and I don’t think I have time to contact him and ask how the spell works.  Besides, I think that would draw some suspicion…

“I have a cloak with a hood,” Gaius said plainly.

“Yes but the locals know your face now,” Kaida shook her head.  “A hood only does so much.”

There must another way… I suppose that’ll be my project for the evening.

“Do you have something in mind?” Gaius asked.

“Not exactly but… let me think on it.  I will have something by morning,” Kaida said.

Don’t make a promise you cannot keep. 

That thought rang with Fray’s voice but Kaida ignored it.  She would find a way.  She would have to.

“Worry not of it,” Gaius tried to reassure her.  His hand found her chin, tilting her head up to meet his eyes.  “We will find a way.”

Their lips touched, soft and ginger.  Loving, yearning.  His closeness stoked urges in her that she would have found shameful just days ago.  A part of her still did.  But the rest of her drowned in them—how they could never be too close, how the kisses could never be long enough.  It sounded desperate and overbearing but her heart felt as though it were on fire when he was near.  Kaida smiled at him.  She felt young.  She felt reckless.  She felt happy.

And she loved it.

They kissed again.  Again, and again, tender gestures of affection turning stronger, needier.  A part of her screamed for him and she bent in once more to kiss him.  His hand against her shoulder stopped her.  At first she thought something was wrong.  Then she caught a glimpse of his smile—a rare sight that took her by surprise.  His fingers brushed back her bangs, voice husky as he spoke.

“Not so much a blushing maid now.” She let out a tiny, disarmed gasp.  His chuckle was a rumble.  “Not that I mind but the hour is growing late and we’ve an early morning.”

They made their way back to the inn, separating the block before their destination came into sight.  Kaida walked first, knowing Gaius was somewhere in the shadows.  He watched over her—she knew not from where, but she felt his presence as she made it to the door.  It took a lot to not beam with giddiness as she stepped inside.  Kaida walked to her room, ignored the pile of letters on the bedside table, and fell backwards onto the mattress.  Still grinning, she stared up at the ceiling, feeling every bit a fool but so delighted that she could not admonish herself.  But then she recalled her promise to Gaius—that she would have a way to hide his identity when they boarded the ferry the next day.  Her eyes snapped wide in realization and the Raen began setting about her brainstorming session.

The next day came before he was ready for it.  Gaius stared at his ceiling for a few long moments as his body adjusted to the feeling of awakening, the early morn light streaming in through motes between the curtains.  The night before had been spent in the G-Savior’s cockpit—the final time before he went into retirement.  His focus, upon his return from Gridania, would be spent in establishing Werlytian government, a different sort of battlefield in itself.  But the brief excursion to Gridania would be a welcome reprieve, even if he had his reservations about how well it would go.  He was still remiss to leave Allie behind but his daughter had insisted she would be fine.  Gaius was leaving under the ruse of shadowhunting—solo, this time.  He told Allie that Valdeaulin and Severa were busy with their own tasks.  And to Valdeaulin and Severa, he said nothing at all.

Weaving lies to conceal the truth was not an easy thing, not when Allie knew him so well.  But it was a falsehood he maintained, along with his feigned ignorance that he did not know she had helped Cassius flee.  Gaius was not sure he would ever know how to approach her about that.  A part of him was angry.  Another part of him was relieved.  He was not sure which was the stronger side but he could not deny that he hoped that by giving Cassius a second chance at life, the ex-tribunus would do something good with it.  Something that brought him happiness.

The airship port to Terncliff was small, holding a handful of ferries at a time.  It came into sight soon enough, draped at the cliff’s edge with a platform that extended over the empty drop into the sea below.  Gaius waited in a nearby alleyway, as Kaida had instructed.  His bag was over a shoulder, his traveler’s cloak draped over his shoulders to keep the nippy seabreeze at bay.  Arms crossed, he waited for a time that seemed both long and short. 

Kaida arrived, dressed in traveler wear as well.  Her items were stored away in her bag, even her iconic greatsword noticeably concealed from view.  Gaius supposed that was for the better; Deathbringer and its cyan glow were striking.  Just about anyone who knew tales of the Warriors of Light would recognize it and, subsequently, her.

Their eyes met and he saw her trepidation for a moment.  And then she banished it with a beaming smile, opening something in her bag.  Seeing her before him made him realize this was all real.  They were doing this.  Sneaking off together.  Stealing moments that rightfully should not have been theirs to take.

“G-good morning,” Kaida said to him hurriedly, fumbling through her belongings quickly.  He raised a brow at her in silent inquiry.  “So… about that disguise… I’ve prepared something to help conceal you.”

Concise and to the point.  She truly must be nervous.

“Good morning… dare I ask what you have prepared?” Gaius questioned.  “You already know that most do not know my face.”

“Most don’t but a handful of Scions do and so do some Grand Company officers now,” Kaida replied. “I want to be careful so I prepared something special.”

Gaius was anticipating some ill-fitting travel wear.  An even baggier cloak, perhaps.  A fake beard, if she was really going a ludicrous route.  Instead, the Raen fished out a small prism from her bag, its shape that of a pyramid.  The Garlean’s left brow rose again in confusion.  Kaida glanced up to him, cradling the prism in both of her palms.

“You might remember I used to be something of a mage.  Before I came here, I… I did start trying to hone my arcane skills once more.  G’raha and Urianger insisted.  The three of us, we’ve been working on a project together off and on.  But it’s still in the early stages,” Kaida explained and Gaius felt his expression shift to even further confusion.  “But that is a tangent for another day.  This is a glamour prism.  Are you familiar?”

“I… cannot say that I am,” Gaius said, trying to rack his brain to see if it rang a bell.  It did not.

“Eorzeans usually use glamour prisms to overlay certain appearances onto their outfits.  However, glamours have… also traditionally been used to overlay another person’s appearance entirely over someone,” Kaida said.  “The average prism will not, of course.  An amplified one in a mage’s hands might.  There are mages who have used such prisms in the past to take on the look of, say… a silly beast for All Saint’s Wake.”

He stared at her blankly.  Kaida shifted her weight slightly.

“Erm… it’s an… an Eorzean holiday… I didn’t get it myself for a few years, if I must be honest but the children love it.  Ahh… anyways, the p-point of the prism is that it can be utilized to make you appear to be someone else,” Kaida said.  “Though, it is still a glamour.  An illusion.  It will not impact your actual being.”

“This seems… dangerous,” Gaius began, a list of ways to misuse such a power coming to mind.  He shook those thoughts away.  “Yet far be it for me to refuse the idea.  I suppose none would look twice at a pair of simple travelers headed to Gridania.”

“Yes, exactly, though I must confess there is a slight problem,” Kaida tapped her chin.  “I cannot just turn you into a… well, a person.  It must be a specific person.”

He stared down at her.  “Go on.”

“For simplicity’s sake on your part, it would be better if I picked someone who was around your height.  If I were to make you appear to be a lalafell, it would… make things a bit difficult.  The illusion would be more difficult to maintain because you are… well, you are tall,” Kaida said hastily.  “So I’ve picked someone for you to be.  Someone who is not entirely different in height and stature and would make sense to be accompanying me, should anyone recognizes me.”

Gaius’s eyes narrowed.

“And someone who… doesn’t… speak often…” Kaida continued.  “And someone you know…”

“Kaida—” Gaius began

“It’s Estinien.  It’s Estinien, all right!?” she blurted, tearing her gaze away.  “… Is that okay?”

It was not as though he had much room to disagree.  He stared at her then thought back to his time with Ser Estinien.  Though their time together had been short in the Garlean capital, Gaius sensed he had a decent enough grasp of the elezen’s character.  The famed Azure Dragoon was cold as a Coerthan winter but not unkind—simply a man who had lost much, a man who had seen much.  It was a feeling the Black Wolf was not unfamiliar with.

She has put much thought into this.

Gaius gave a small nod.  This was better than trying to emulate someone he was unfamiliar with, he supposed.  That she had put so much thought into it was impressive.  Though the entire concept of sneaking out to Gridania was likely foolish regardless, this was not a terrible plan. 

“I should think that will suffice,” the Black Wolf said.

“All right,” Kaida nodded, still seeming nervous about the entire thing.

She held the prism towards him and he stared down at it uncertainly.  Her eyes closed.  He watched the prism start to glow like a small beacon.  Briefly, he feared someone would look into the alley and see what was transpiring.  That thought went away as the Raen’s eyes opened and she threw the prism into the air.  It shattered like glass, causing him to flinch.  Yet what came down were not shards but flickers of blue lights, dying like starved embers as they fell around him.  Gaius blinked and in the span of that moment, everything changed.

When he looked down at his arms, he noticed the change in his attire.  He wore a partially faded cerulean tunic, a black scarf around his neck.  His hands were pale and he took a moment to look them over, feeling very much out of his own skin.  Silver hair fell down his shoulders but when his fingers went to touch it, they passed through it, as though it were nothing. 

“You should… see your face right now,” Kaida said and he looked to her, spying that sly smile.

“I take it the enchantment… worked,” Gaius said.

“It did,” Kaida’s smile widened.  “Erm…”  Her head tilted—to the left then the right, index finger drumming against her chin.  “… It… is a bit funny to hear your voice coming from his mouth.”

Gaius scowled.

“You’ve his scowl on point, however.”

“I am starting to think you did this less for precaution’s sake and more for your own amusement.”

“Hey!” Kaida huffed.  “Keep up the sass and I’ll buy another prism and turn you into someone you’d rather I didn’t.”

“And who would that be?”

“Nero.”

“… I find the idea neither revolting nor appealing.”

“Yes but you would be forced to act like him.”

“I dare say I have spent a long enough amount of time to replicate his maniacal laugh.”

“Now that I have to hear.”

A horn sounded across the street, its origin from one of the airships at the landing platform.  Kaida tossed a look at it over her shoulder then glanced back up at Gaius.  He was almost glad she had opted to not do this in a place with a mirror.  He was not sure he would be able to stand the sight of himself as another.  The entire notion was unnerving, even if his body had not physically changed. 

“Final call before the ferry departs.  Let’s go, Ser Estinien,” the Raen said, the slightly playful wink that ensued making Gaius sigh.  She grabbed him by the wrist and the two of them strode from the alleyway and into the sunlight.

There was thankfully not a long line to the gate.  Kaida had purchased the tickets at some point for Gridania—when that had happened, he was not certain.  But she handed them both to the attendant, a lazy looking highlander lad who seemed to need a cup or three of coffee.  Gaius was waved onto the ferry, which was mostly full.  Kaida found a place to stand around near the starboard side, leaning against the railing.  Gaius took up a spot next to her.  There were a few seats still available for the trek across the ocean but the Raen seemed eager to look over the side, at the ocean so far below.  Gaius watched the waters churn, capped with creamy seafoam.  The scent of it was nostalgic and he fought the urge to stay his hand.  It wanted to rest on her back, to massage it lightly.  But he reminded himself of his place.  Estinien Wyrmblood would not do that to Kaida Asagiri (as far as he knew) and he had to play his part.

Before long, the airship departed, bearing them over the sea.  The canopy did much to blot out the sunlight, subjecting the passengers on the deck to the chilly winds that swept over the water.  Kaida was donned in a jacket but still seemed to shiver.  He restrained himself, sidling next to her until their arms were touching.  It was little comfort but it was all he could do for the moment.

“A heavier coat might be in order before you make this journey once more,” Gaius said to her.

“The heaviest coat in the world couldn’t stave off this sort of cold.  I don’t know how people stand it,” Kaida huffed.

“Then may I suggest you never visit my homeland,” Gaius retorted, in a low enough voice that was nearly drowned by the sound of idle chatter from the other passengers.  “Its cold is notorious.  Men have been known to step from their front door and freeze to death within minutes.”

“That sounds horrible,” Kaida gave a shudder—not from the cold, this time.

Gaius was silent for a moment, amber eyes cast over the sea.  It was horrible—that was the reality of it.  The cold claimed the unfortunate and the poor every day.  For all the ceruleum they could mine, it was never enough to truly make that frozen wasteland a livable place.  If they spread too much among the people, the military would suffer for it.  If they let the military have too much, the people suffered.  Northern Ilsabard was a near-hopeless land.  And that despair had led to the rise of the Empire, a flame kindled by Ascian hands.  Once, the Garleans had lived in another place.  An isle—Locus Amoenus.  It had been their sanctuary until they had been forced out by outsiders, wielding magicks that the Garleans could not have contended with.  It was the start of their dark path.  Solus had used their mistreatment as a weapon to fuel hate, turning the wounded Garlean people into a poison that infected the world.  A perfect storm—Gaius had to bitterly applaud his former liege’s tactics.  Brutal as though they were, they were effective.  As Garlemald allegedly lay in shambles, he feared what had become of the people there.  His mind traveled back to what Cassius said of Valentina and Marilla, gut twisting.  He could not fault Eorzea for characterizing his people as monsters.  But to say every man, woman, and child was a part of the conquering machine was a lie.  Some people were just trying to survive and the sins of their leaderships had condemned them to die anyways.

“Gaius?” Kaida asked, the sound of his name on her breath hushed, emerald eyes crawling over his face.  It took him a moment to remember he was not himself.  Not to her, at least.

“Mm?”

“When was the last time you were in your homeland?”

“Several years.  A few moons before we first met.”

“I suppose you miss it.”

He was not sure how to answer that.  To think of Garlemald was to think about everything that had transpired that led him to leave the Empire’s shadow.  It was not so simple to say yes or no. 

“I would have loved to take you to the opera house,” Gaius said.  But speaking of the opera house reminded him of Valentina.  She used to sing there, a star so bright she outshined the rest of the cast.  He changed the subject rapidly, a tug at his heartstrings.  “Or to one of the parks.  Though the cold makes outdoor activities less than desirable some days… there was an effort to make the capital as beautiful a place as we could.  Yet I imagine it is all gone now.”

Her gaze fell.  “Some of it could still be left standing…”

The Black Wolf offered her a half-smile.  She was trying to cheer him up, to keep his pessimism in check.  He appreciated it, but he would not hear honeyed words to spare himself the grief.  His heart was numbed to such tragedies now.  He did not feel the sting of loss, only a dull ache.  Carefully, his hand went to her shoulder.  A small squeeze was given then he let it drop to his side.

“Perhaps.”

The ferry to Gridania took longer than he had anticipated.  The first stop was to Ala Mhigo, of course, and a handful of the passengers departed.  The next would be Gridania, which took a fair bit shorter than the flight from Terncliff to Ala Mhigo.  Gaius and Kaida sat side-by-side as the great boughs of the Twelveswood came into sight.  Their emerald canopy was impossible to miss on the horizon and he felt the airship begin its descent.

In his years as Shadowhunter, he had ventured to Gridania a few times.  Such a flourishing, bountiful place was strange to him; even the sparse woods of Gyr Abania did not compare to it.  But not seeing the sky made him feel a tad cramped.  In Garlemald, the sky was always there, though occasionally interrupted by a mountain.  In the Shroud, everything was so green, so full of life.  It was the opposite of the land he had come from, a bitter and cold place full of spite and hate.

On the horizon, cutting through the jade of the canopy, rose a black structure with crimson lights flickering atop of it.  The sight of it was enough to send a prickle down his nape, blood turning cold.  His hands became fists in his lap.

Baelsar’s Wall.

No matter how hard he toiled, no matter the effort he put into his penance, ghosts from his past still stared him in the eye.  Unflinching.  Unafraid to call him out.  He stared back at it, feeling that familiar sense of shame in his chest.  Kaida patted his arm.  It only released an ilm of the tension in his body.  The airship crested over the wall and Gaius’s eyes could not help but watch until it faded from sight.  Gridania was spied soon enough and the Black Wolf felt his unease ebb away bit by bit. 

The reprieve was not long; soon enough the airship landing came into sight and with it, came a storm of new anxieties.  He fought to recall how Estinien acted on the off-chance they ran into someone that would have known him.  He felt like he was scrambling inwardly by the time the airship docked.  Kaida rose from her chair, looking equally nervous.  But she quickly flashed him a grin—as she always did.  It was enough to still his worries for the moment.  He rose and the two of them departed the ship.

They crossed into the landing area, where a few Gridanians waited for their chance to board the ferry.  Up a curving set of stairs they walked.  The next floor housed a bustling tavern, its primary matron an elezen woman who was busily talking to a lalafell lad that looked freshly arrived himself.  He was young, Gaius noted, and his gear marked him as a green adventurer. 

“We will be staying at the Carline Canopy—that’s… the place we’re at right now, in case you’re unfamiliar.  It is the inn most of the Scions prefer to stay at,” Kaida said to him and he noted the warning in her tone.  “The funeral I must attend is tomorrow.  The meeting with the emissary will also be tomorrow, shortly after.  While I’m at the meeting, you’re free to do as you please, I suppose.  As for today…”

She turned to face him. 

“Well, I haven’t got any plans.  So I figure we could get some things out of the way first.  Like sightseeing,” Kaida said.  “But I’d like to drop off my belongings.  That way we’re not hauling about so much.”

“Lead on,” Gaius said.

Checking into their room was simple enough.  The attendant did cast a wary eye at Gaius before sliding over the room key.  Kaida seemed to not notice, taking the key and tracking down their room.  Their bags were shoved inside and the Raen turned to him, eyeing him up and down.  A small frown creased her lips.

“What is it?” Gaius asked.

“I want to kiss you,” Kaida admitted.  “But I don’t think I can.  Not with you like this.”

He scowled.  “It was not my idea.”

“I’ll… need to buy some more prisms while I’m here,” Kaida said.  “The glamour will wear off eventually.  And I’m sure you’ll not want to look like Ser Estinien the entire time… Oh.”

Her gaze was directed to the bed and Gaius’s head swiveled in the same direction.  There was one bed.  He thought nothing of it… until he saw the apprehension in her eyes.  Right—she was still quite new to this courting business.  Most couples would have not blinked twice at the situation.  But Kaida Asagiri was naïve, despite her years and experience.

“I can sleep in the chair,” Gaius offered.

“No,” Kaida said at once.  “I wouldn’t ask that of you.  I could… I could take the chair… I am smaller after all…”  Her voice faltered, faded.  And then she looked up at him, nervous.  “W-would you be opposed?  To… um… sharing the bed.”

“No,” Gaius replied.

“I mean, we’ve barely… and now we are already…” Kaida shuffled her feet as she fumbled about with her words.  “I-I’m sorry, I must seem like a fool.”

His hand grabbed her chin, turning her to look at him.  “You are not a fool.  Only cautious.” 

He went in to kiss her, catching glimpse of her stunned expression.  It was only after their lips had touched that he remembered that he did not look like himself.  Gaius pulled back suddenly.  She looked positively mortified, a hand over her mouth.

“A-apologies…” he started.

“N-no, I…!” Kaida squeaked, face red.  One of her palms hit her forehead in embarrassment.  “It’s all right!  I did this to myself!”

“I will not deny that,” Gaius said.  “But I should have remembered.  I take it you and Estinien are not…?”

“I like him fine enough as a friend,” Kaida replied.  “But nothing more.”

“Understood.”

“Well… if you are all right with the bed situation, I will be too,” Kaida said hastily, clearing her throat.  “There are a few places I would like to visit while we are here.  And I do not know about you but I could use lunch.”

“Lead on,” Gaius nodded to her, thinking about chasing after her with a sly comment about how she was still blushing.  He refrained, following her out the door.  They had walked perhaps a yalm before Gaius heard a door open behind them, belonging, no doubt, to one of the many inn rooms in the hall.  The door closed, a few footsteps were taken.  And then he heard a soft gasp.

“Kaida?”

She froze.  He heard her suck in a breath, body tensing as if anticipating an attack.  He turned around, spying down the hall another Raen.  Her blue hair was tied back into a side ponytail and a set of black spectacles rested on her nose.  Soft freckles dotted her cheeks and her eyes shone in mismatched vivid pastel colors—purple and blue.  Gaius knew her face—he had seen her several times before.

“Listelle…” Kaida’s voice was quiet but panicked.

Listelle Viyrel.  Our intelligence reports stated she is a practiced white mage and a Warrior of Light.  One of Kaida’s closest comrades.

He fought to keep his expression neutral but his heart rate was steadily increasing.

Will this illusion fool her?  Or will she see through it instantly?

Gaius had a feeling the answer would come swiftly, whether they wanted it to or not.