Mikoto stared into the fire as she waited for the fish to cook, keeping her foot elevated on a nearby rock. They had been traveling for almost two weeks now, and while the swelling of her ankle had decreased she still couldn't reliably put weight on it. Instead, true to his word, An had carried her everyday.
Mikoto poked the fish trying to convince herself that the fluttering in her stomach was hunger. She glanced up the river to where An was rummaging through a berry bush growing in the cliffside. He was so composed and worked tirelessly without complaint. If anything the simple tasks made him seem more peaceful than she remembered. Mikoto pulled his cloak closer around herself, blushing as she realized how easily she picked out his scent on his cloak. The image of him months ago lying on the ground half dead popped into her head. All he had was this cloak. Through all the chaos that had happened since then, at least one truly good thing had happened in her life.
An must have noticed her staring because he waved to her. Mikoto waved back hoping they were far enough away that he couldn't see her blush. Even from the distance though she could see him smiling. Her heart squeezed in her chest. That smile wasn't fair.
Suddenly the branch he was holding slipped out of his grasp and bopped him in the face. Mikoto laughed as he gave her a confused thumbs up. She looked away to turn the fish over. However her eyes soon wandered back to An.
His back was to her now, something she had gotten really used to seeing. She stretched her arms making his cloak shift around her. His shoulders were a lot broader than she had thought. More surprising was how physically strong he had become. She still remembered when he couldn't even hold himself up. When had he changed so much? Mikoto forced her gaze back to the fire: trying to find some way to still her racing thoughts and heart.
Right as she had calmed down she felt him sit down next to her starting this whole stupid cycle over again.
"Hey are you okay?" An asked as he placed some berries beside them.
"Y-Yes why?" Mikoto said silently cursing herself over the slight stammer.
"Your face is all red. You're not getting an infection are you?" An placed his hand over her forehead.
Mikoto let out a small breath to compose herself, "I'm fine," she said moving his hand, "And you should know that there are several reasons a face can be red."
An snorted with a smirk, "Well I know you're not drunk."
Mikoto swatted him playfully, but smiled in spite of herself. Her eyes trailing to his face, now noticing the scratches. She shifted to get a better look.
"Come here." She commanded, half scooting to him.
"What?" An asked as he did as he was told.
Mikoto reached up and started running her fingers over the scratches on his face, "Seems like that bush really gave you a good whack."
Her hand shifted to cup his cheek as she errantly ran her thumb across a scratch on his cheek bone. Her eyes shifted up his face. There was a small nick on his forehead, almost unnoticeable next to the bright red of his gem. The area around his eyes was spared. Though his gaze was averted from her scrutiny. This close she could see that his pupils were slightly slitted. Had she never noticed that before?
She reached her other hand up to brush away some of his hair that was falling into his face. It was a very pretty blue. She tucked it behind his ear, fingers brushing the point. An shuddered slightly. Were his ears sensitive? He hid it well considering she had been breathing next to them whenever he carried her. Her hand trailed down to trace a small cut on his chin. Her brows furrowed as she tried to wipe away the small trace of blood. As she finished her eyes lifted to his lips.
Suddenly her heart started to race. Her stomach flip-flopped; pulse pounding in her ears, but she couldn't move her eyes. Her body seemed to have a will of it's own. She shifted closer to him, moving her hand from his chin to cup his other cheek. Her breath started to come faster. She absentmindedly pulled him closer. What was she doing? She leaned up, tilted her head, and pressed her lips to his.
Her eyes fluttered closed. Somehow this felt different than with Cyril all those years ago. It was a similar sensation on her lips, but everything else was different. Her heart was racing so much faster. It felt like the butterflies in her stomach had burst. It was dizzying.
She felt him freeze up at the sudden contact. Then the feelings on her lips changed. She moved her hands from his cheeks not wanting to frighten him. His own hands moved to her shoulders.
The whole thing lasted just a couple moments before An lightly pushed her shoulders separating them. Both of their faces were bright red. An's hand released her shoulder to cover the entire lower half of his face. His eyes looked like they were going to bulge out of their sockets. Abruptly he stood up and turned up river.
"I should go catch some more fish I think. Dinner looks rather light." An said with an awkward laugh before rushing off.
Mikoto just sat stunned with her hand hovering over her own mouth. She was surprised at her own sudden boldness. Her heart felt ready to leap from her chest and her legs felt weaker than before. She kissed him, and for one incredible moment, he had kissed her back.
Arete rubbed her tired eyes with the backs of her hands. Stacks of reports covering her desk: military inventory, weapon and item purchase requests, letters to request donations from nobles to help pay for a larger military force, approval to hire more soldiers, budget redistribution notices, the records from every single member from Mikoto's group, and the updates about the search for her and An. Her fingers were going to be permanently ink stained if she kept this up much longer.
She opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her fingers. Midday sun filled the room reminding Arete it was time for lunch. She glanced back to the desk. How much of it could wait until after lunch? She ran her finger down the largest stack. Suddenly the door opened with no knock. Arete whipped her head up, wondering who wouldn't announce themselves.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Lysander standing there. He wore that same goofy, gentle smile he always had. His clothes still bore dirt from the road. His hair was longer and shaggier than she had seen before. However, his eyes still had that lively spark. He held out his arms and took a step towards her.
All at once she felt years younger. She leapt into his arms throwing her arms around him like they were still newlyweds rather than several years married with a child. His hand tucked under her chin and tipped her head up to kiss her. Her fingers dug into his tunic relishing in his presence that she had missed more than she could express. As she pulled away she buried her face in the crook of his neck and enjoyed the rumbling of his laugh.
"Gods I missed you." Lysander said holding her a bit tighter.
"Took you long enough." Arete sighed as she squeezed back.
"Hey I came back alive didn't I?" Lysander released her.
Arete smiled before reality came crashing back. She reached down and squeezed his hand. At least he was still here.
Lysander leaned over to look her in the eye, "What happened while I was gone? The desk looks downright ominous."
Arete closed her eyes. Where to even begin? Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she started from the beginning. She spoke simply, relying the information fact by fact. It seemed easier to explain the events in 10 minutes rather than go over all details and take all night. She could see Lysander become more and more troubled as she went on, but she kept herself composed. As she finished Lysander reached out a grabbed her hand, motioning to head out of the door.
"Come on." Lysander tugged on her hand.
"Where are we going?" Arete asked not moving, confused by his light-hearted expression.
"To see Azura, and then get food. Then we spend the rest of the night as a family." Lysander said simply.
Arete planted her feet and pulled back her hand, "Just wait a second here, do you see how much needs to be done?"
Lysander placed his hands on her upper arms, "Arete you need a break, I need a break. We're no good if we run ourselves thin."
"But there's all this military stuff, and Mikoto-" Arete said starting to squirm away from him.
"You are more than a queen you know." Lysander said placing his forehead against hers, "It doesn't always have to come first. All we can do for Mikoto and An is have faith in them. Believe me I'm worried too, but for one night I want to stop worrying about things. For one night I just want to be a husband and father."
Arete sighed but leaned against him, "You know this has to be dealt with. You are king."
Lysander let out a low laugh, "Yes, but a tired one. So just for tonight family time?" he pulled back and raised his eyebrow at her.
Arete pursed her lips in a scowl, but her eyes were still gentle. Blast that smile of his. The way his thumbs rubbed circles on her upper arms. How much she missed him. She reached her hand up to put it in one of his, "For tonight."
Lysander smiled and wrapped his good arm around her shoulders as she pulled her away from the office and duties. His feet automatically headed straight towards Azura's nursery as soon as they exited the office. Arete smiled to herself as she felt him speed up with every step. She separated his arm from her shoulders as they stood in front of the nursery door. Just in time to allow him to scurry right in.
Azura's nurse nearly jumped out of her chair from the sudden intrusion, but Lysander clearly paid her no mind. Arete merely walked over and dismissed her for the evening fighting an amused chuckle. Azura's nurse curtsied and left the room before Arete turned back to see Lysander. Her heart melted as she saw him.
Immediately Lysander had hefted up the little girl and began over cooing over her. Azura looked delighted to have her father's attention, giggling and gurgling in glee. Lysander placed a kiss to her forehead before rocking and bouncing her.
"You've gotten so big. Did you miss Papa? Papa missed you and Mama more than anything." Lysander said almost like he forgot "Mama" was in the room.
Arete merely walked up behind Lysander and watched as he reunited with his daughter. She let out a sigh as she finally let the stress leave. They still had to find Mikoto and stop Anankos, but nothing was knocking down the palace doors at that moment. No one was dying at that moment. Just for this moment, Arete would enjoy some peace.
Mikoto had finally calmed her racing heart as she sat by the bank. Her eyes drifted down to An. His back was towards her and he was fully focused on fishing. She hoped she hadn't scared him away. She wasn't sure how she wanted to relate to him, but he was important to her. Losing his support and warmth sounded crushing. She shook her head to clear the unpleasant thoughts creeping in. Once they had both calmed down they would talk this out like adults and figure it out.
As Mikoto sat thinking she suddenly thought she heard a voice. An was still up river fishing. She glanced around not seeing anyone.
Then it came again, louder this time, "La...to"
Mikoto made an attempt to raise herself up somewhat.
The voice rang out clearly, "Lady Mikoto!"
Mikoto looked up just in time to see Amie landed right next to her before throwing her arms around her. Mikoto sat stunned as Amie practically sobbed into her shoulder. She looked up river to see An rushing towards them.
"It's really you right? Thank the gods you're still alive. An's here too right?" Amie said barely intelligibly, even Thorn rested her big wyvern head next to Mikoto's lap.
Mikoto wrapped her arms tightly around Amie, "How did you find us?"
Amie removed herself from Mikoto's shoulder to look her in the eye, "We've been scouring Valla for days trying to find you. I'm just so glad your okay."
At this point Amie noticed An and removed herself from Mikoto to wrap An in a hug. An stumbled, not expecting her enthusiasm before hugging her back. Mikoto beamed as sudden elation shot through her. They were going home. She would see Arete and Azura. Her comfortable bed was just waiting for her. Good food the cooks prepared served on a steaming plate.
She started to bounce expectantly. She looked to An ready to celebrate. His gaze was relieved and excited as well, though he quickly turned red and looked away after meeting for eyes for a short time. Then she realized that she couldn't talk to him about the kiss with Amie right there. Mikoto took a deep breath. She didn't know when she'd find time to talk to him about it privately, but she would. For now, it was more important to get home.
AN: Thank you so much to everyone for reading. I truly appreciate it. And as always thank you especially to everyone who leaves reviews, kudos, or any sort of feedback. Seriously it is what keeps me going when all motivation is lost. Please if there is anything you enjoyed, disliked, want to more or less of: leave feedback. I genuinely take it into account when I write.
Also: 29 chapters and 85k+ words and FINALLY they kiss. I have been waiting to write this scene since like March. Why does everything I write have to become some giant project?
