Dreams

Her legs were dipped in the cool water, idly swishing as she leaned back on her arms and bathed in the sun above. He sat on the chair next to her, quill scratching away on his parchment.

With a hum, Ahiru glanced up at the sky, the white of the clouds bringing a smile to her face. The way they formed almost looked like a head, even one belonging to a specific someone.

"You know," she began, "it's almost strange. I don't remember anything from before I was turned into a girl, so all I knew back then was that I wanted to help Mytho and see his smile." A pause hung in the air for a moment. "It was my dream."

At that point, Fakir had stopped writing, letting his quill drop to lie across the paper while he waited for the ink to dry. He listened attentively to her words, and then turned to look at her when she quieted.

"And you accomplished it," he stated.

"Mm."

"Not many people can say that."

"…I know." Bringing up her legs from the water, Ahiru drew them to her chest and wrapped her arms around them in a hold, leaning her chin on her knees. Fakir was right. Not many people could say they've achieved their dreams.

But….

They've done so much more than that, in the end. The both of them. Things had changed, but Ahiru never stopped having a goal in front of her to pursue, back then.

"It's just… weird. To not have a dream anymore. It feels kinda final, like I can't do anything anymore."

Fakir closed his eyes. "You shouldn't judge your life's value based on whether you have a dream or not. That's just stupid."

Ahiru pursed her lips out. "I—I know that! But still!"

"What about ballet?" he offered.

She quieted in response. "Mm…."

Ahiru spent the next few minutes silent, mulling over it. She did want to become a prima ballerina still, especially when she was human again. But at the same time, it still felt like a different category of 'dream' than something like helping a prince and releasing the town from its shackles. It made perfect sense in her head! Those were two completely different types of dreams!

After a while, she turned to Fakir. "What about you? What do you think, after…."

How did he feel now that he, too, accomplished his goal of protecting those he wished to?

Fakir leaned back in his chair, answering with a shrug, "I have a different dream, now."

That caught Ahiru off guard. She blinked at him.

"You do?"

"I do."

She couldn't help but feel curious. She scooted closer to him, attention rapt. "What is it?"

Fakir gave her a level look, before picking his quill back up and returning to his writing. "I don't see how that's your business."

Her mouth dropped open and then closed, her lips pursing out. "Eh? Come on, Fakir, you can tell me!"

"I don't think so."

A bit irked, Ahiru threw her head back, groaning to the sky. "Jerrrrrrrrrrk."

Trying not to roll his eyes in response, Fakir sighed and pressed the tip of the quill to the paper. "Idiot."

And then he paused, considering with a glance to the side. "Maybe I'll tell you someday," he said, his words much more quiet than usual.

That caught her attention back then, and she looked at him with a wide smile. "Really? You promise?"

"…I promise."