Title: Just What We Are
Pairing: It was written as genfic, but I suppose there's implied platonic Kalgara/Norland if you're looking for some.
Rating: K+
Notes: Fluff. Kalgara wonders what Norland is to him.

If there was one thing Kalgara noticed about all the men who stumbled across his village, it was their lack of passion. Each time Kalgara studied the outsiders that docked upon his waters, it always bothered him how these men treated each mission without emotion and without care. They refused to get close to their work and refused to reach out to even those who were in need of their help.

But then Norland and his crew came, turning all of Kalgara's observations upside down. From the time they set foot on his land, it had struck Kalgara how different these men were from the others. They were close to one another, acting like a group should. Like a family, teasing and laughing and trusting their captain like his word was law.

Norland, especially, was different from those who had come before him. He was affectionate, all hugs and laughter and a grinning face and alcohol and walking along the beach as if he had known Kalgara all his life.

It was unnerving at first; Kalgara had never been this close to someone in his life, saver for his wife and daughter. No one had grinned at him like that before, coming up and hugging him for no other reason than to revel in the closeness, making faces until they were both breathless from laughter. No one had shoved him into the sand before, laughing as Kalgara sputtered, running away only to fall face first when he was tackled down, laughing harder still as death threats were thrown at him one after another. No one had taken up so forcefully an interest in keeping him smiling that he was tickled each time there was even a chance that he was upset.

Yet still, there was something off with their relationship. Kalgara didn't like calling Norland friend; it wasn't a strong enough word for the emotions that stirred at the sound of the man's name. Brother then? Surely not. How could an outsider be family, even one trusted and loved by the village as he was?

Kalgara frowned and sighed.

Norland raised an eyebrow but Kalgara simply shot him a deadly glare.

"Don't tickle me."

Norland raised his hands in defense. "All right, I won't. Will you at least tell me what's wrong, though?"

Kalgara stared into the fire, shifting his weight uneasily. "Would you call us friends?"

Norland blinked and beamed. "Of course!"

"What if that word wasn't strong enough?" Kalgara insisted. "Then what would you call it? What would you call us?"

Norland hesitated before his features settled into a soft smile.

"I'd say there's no word for that."

Kalgara thought about that. Perhaps there wasn't any word that could express how he felt. Friendship. Family. Love. Nothing was right, nothing fit. It was different. Norland was different.

Suddenly he grinned, causing Norland to startle as he leaned in, noses almost touching. He chuckled. "In that case, let's just be what we are."

Norland blinked before he mirrored the grin shining of him. "Sounds good."

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