A/N- A clean and wholesome one for you all today, enjoy!

The Commission Files- File #a136 Just Because

Characters: Rutger and Lilina
Based on: Commission by archonaed on Twitter

Lilina was looking out the window in one of the rooms of Castle Ostia and what she saw was causing her a bit of emotion. She was thinking about someone special as she looked out on the grassy plains in her view, and whether he would rather be there instead of here with her. She let out a sigh, not knowing how to calm herself from these feelings at the moment and wishing she could. She straightened up though when she heard the door of the room opening, someone must not have known she was in there, or it could be one of the maids or servants coming to clean the room up. Lilina didn't feel like speaking up and maybe some company would help her mood, though she didn't feel like turning around just yet. The door closed soon after and even before she heard the voice she could tell who it was by his graceful footsteps and measured breathing.

"Oh, so this is where you got off to." Rutger said with a bit of a smile. "I was starting to think that my tracking skills were starting to rust being in this castle for so long." Not the best words to say right now, not that he knew that, so Lilina kept her back turned to him, not wanting him to find out that she wasn't feeling the best right now. Rutger found it strange that she was being the quiet one so he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist so he could see what she was seeing. "So, why are you here just looking out the window, doesn't look like anything interesting is happening."

"Just because." Was the short answer that Lilina gave. "What about you? Why were you looking for me so intently, is something going on?"

"Oh, you know, just because." Rutger said mirroring what Lilina just told him, hoping that a bit of humor would get her to crack. Lilina tried to give a fake exasperated sigh like she did when she heard Roy or Mark's bad jokes, but it came out more real than she wanted it too. "Okay, something is up, you know it's bad when I can catch on so easily." Rutger noted. "Come on, you know you can tell me anything, just like you used to when we were kids." Lilina sighed again before reaching her hand up and placing it on Rutger's cheek, bringing him a bit closer and getting a good feel of his long, brown hair. She took a deep breath and asked the question that was on her mind.

"Rutger, are you happy here?" It was safe to say that question was not what he was expecting. He knew he wasn't the happy and exuberant child he used to be, but he also wasn't the brooding edge lord he had turned into either. The question hung in the air a bit, Rutger wanted to laugh it off but felt that would just ruin Lilina's mood more. So he carefully considered his answer before speaking.

"What's there not to be happy about?" He finally asked back. "I'm in good health, I have food and a roof over my head, and I'm living with the woman who not only is my best friend, but is also the love of my life. All things considered I'd have to be pretty crazy not to be happy with how things have gone after what happened."

"But what about the plains of Sacae, don't you miss them?" Lilina continued. "You mother would always tell stories about how they would call back to her to come back when she was in Caelin and eventually the feeling was so strong she ended up going back and staying there the rest of her life. I don't want to be an anchor weighing you down if that's really where you want to be." If it were anyone else Rutger might have started to get a bit emotional, but with Lilina he could freely talk about his parents knowing that she too had gone through similar circumstances with her loss. He still needed to take a breath before he could answer though.

"Yes, it's true that the plains call to me from time to time, but there is something that you need to know about that." He told Lilina in a softer voice. "You are the reason that I can hear them clearly. Before we met during the war, I felt no connection to my home or culture, I couldn't because I had closed off my heart from hearing anything of the sort. And other Sacaens could tell too, Dayan the Silver Wolf told me pointedly that fact during the war. He told me that until my heart was open I wouldn't hear the winds connecting with my soul and giving me a sense of completeness. And wouldn't you know it, I ended up finding someone who opened my heart wider than it ever had been. And do you know who that was?"

"Me?" Lilina asked a bit meekly with a blush on her face.

"Yes, you Lilina. You who had been my friend for my entire life, you who didn't give up on me along with Roy knowing who I used to be and who I could be, you who shared your pain and emotion freely, you who fell in love with someone as damaged as me." Rutger confirmed trying his best not to get too emotional and lose his momentum with this. "I may never be exactly the same as I used to be, but I never want to be the person I was without you again, so even if the plains call to me from time to time, my true home will always be by your side Lilina, and that's a promise I can and will keep until I die. Maybe even after that, who knows?" Lilina just had to laugh a bit at that last part, but everything else he said warmed her heart so much that her worries started to melt away with each word. Though one more thing would seal the deal for her.

"Hmm, I think I need just a little more proof, maybe a kiss? Just because?" She teased him.

"Alright, just because I love you so much." Rutger said with a warm smile before moving in and connecting their lips in a warm kiss. It wasn't too long, but it felt right, it felt good. "And honestly, if you're so worried about me missing Sacae, we can always have like a summer home there can't we, you are the Marquess of Ostia after all." He said afterwards with a bit of a chuckle.

"You know what, I may just have to take you up on that offer, just because."