A/N: Valtor and Griffin are on a mission when Valtor is enchanted by an awestruck Griffin and the genuine emotion in her eyes at the sight of the fireworks in the sky.
He had to admit he was quite surprised when he turned to Griffin and found her mesmerized, her eyes drinking in the sight of the colorful display in the night sky. Even if she'd seen many other breath-taking things and all kinds of magic. She looked so different with that child-like awe taking over her, so soft and delicate that he feared snapping her out of it would break her heart in half.
"It's... magical," she spoke as she must have felt him watching her. He was staring at her the way she was looking at the fireworks and was rather disappointed with the subtle shift in her expression when she spoke, for she'd looked absolutely enchanting.
"You haven't seen fireworks before?" he asked even though he knew. She had that yearning in her gaze that he knew so well. And the realization pained him because she deserved the world. She deserved to have everything she wanted. And she'd make sure she would. He'd make sure they both would.
Her gaze left the sky as if against her will and she shook her head. "There weren't fireworks in my realm." She turned to look at him, her eyes full of sadness with no tears which only made it hit worse. It was like she didn't have enough strength to cry over it but wasn't ready to let it go either. And the familiarity hit too close to home. "It was a water-based realm with a lot of crops and forests and fire was silently excluded from everything it wasn't strictly needed for."
Her words were like a slap in the face because he should've known that. He should've asked. How could he think he knew all of her when he didn't have a clue about her past? It was true that she didn't talk about it much and was vague and sparse when she did but he should've asked, should've cared enough to think of that. Not to mention that it explained why she'd been so reluctant to work with him in the beginning, considering his powers and his character.
"And later," Griffin wasn't looking at him now, her head slightly bowed, "I was too busy studying in Cloud Tower to go ti Magix and watch the fireworks." Her voice was quiet as if she was scared to admit she'd preferred getting work done instead of having some fun. As if she'd wasted the opportunity of a life time. And it would've been so if he'd been living his life but his upbringing wasn't her fault.
"You did what you decided was best for you," he said as he lifted her chin to have her look at him. She didn't have to be ashamed that she'd had more opportunities and control over her own fate than he'd had. He appreciated her consideration but not if it brought her pain. He'd already suffered enough from how he'd been raised. There was no need for her to punish herself that her life had been different enough to allow her to choose what to do with her own time. "Why don't we enjoy what we can now?" he tucked her hair behind her ear. It'd be better ti get their job done while everyone was distracted by the fireworks, but with her by his side it wouldn't matter what obstacles they'd have to face.
And the smile she gave him in response was brighter than the display in the sky and convinced him he'd been right to ask. The rest of the world could wait a few minutes while she enjoyed the lights in the sky and he admired the ones in her eyes.
