Chapter Text
It all started off innocent. He needed my help as the Warrior of light, like so many others. They had a war to end, and I was a means to that end. The Scions - we'd all just been kicked out of our homes, and the Ishgardians were kind enough to let us in. The first outsiders in decades to enter the Holy See. Unknown to them, undeserving of the trust and kindness they gave so freely without asking much in return. As the Warrior of Light, I was accustomed to this, but the twins were not. Not in this way, at least. This was unusual, but welcome, after the Scions were blamed for the death of the Sultana and chased out of Eorzea. Yes, this all began so innocently, being offered a home for nothing while we tried to prove our innocence back home.
Haurchefant Fortemps was the first to welcome us so warmly, as if we had been dear friends since we were just tiny babes. Our first meeting had him personally bringing us stew and steaming chocolate, a warm respite from the chill of the ishgardian lands. He was so open and friendly and genuine that it was impossible not to like him right off the bat. He had his father take us in as wards of House Fortemps, and the man did so without question, trusting his wayward son. He had us meet with his best friend, captain of the guard, and heir to the Holy See. Aymeric de Borel, as friendly and warm as his dear friend.
Both Elezen, as all who lived in the upper ranks of the Holy See were. Hyur were always lower class, and there were no Lalafell or Roegadyn here. And being an Au-Ra here was perhaps the worst of all. The Ishgardians mistrusted anything remotely draconic in resemblance, and me with my scales and horns and tail caused quite a commotion upon being granted access to the Holy See. Everywhere I walked, too, did whispers and stares and contempt follow me. Here, they did not know who I was. Here, I was an outsider, a stranger, and worse, a heretic for my draconian features. That Aymeric had allowed me in, and House Fortemps had taken me as their ward, were the only reasons why whispers never escalated to violence in the streets of the city.
The twins resided in the city, building what connections they could among noble and commoner alike. I meanwhile, would prove to be task mistress for both Haurchefant and Aymeric, more the former than the latter at this point. The completion of each task was greeted with a warm meal and a warmer welcome home from Haurchefant. And his warmth was contagious, like a fever that would not break and left your insides all aflutter. Warm welcome-homes became easy conversations that became easier flirting in the months I spent on the Ishgardian front line with Haurchefant.
He was easy to talk to, easy to open up to. Though he never fully understood the weight of the title I bore, he had his own weighty title that he strove to live up to. We could relate to one another in this way, and support each other without ever fully understanding the responsibilities of the other.
One night with a hearty meal and heartier drink in his quarters during a particularly nasty Ishgardian winter storm turned into a regular occurrence. Our fondness for each other grew alongside our desires. With him, out there on the front, I had gained the trust of the soldiers and did not have to hide who I was to prevent causing a ruckus. With him, I was always able to be more than proud of who I was, even when the days got heavy with the weight of who I was and what I had lost. Who I had failed to protect.
He was not the marrying kind, but that suited me just fine. I would rarely be home, always off saving another land, and it was always in question whether I would return home celebrated or mourned. He had duties to see to, both out here and back in the Holy See. He had a war to win with as little loss of life as possible, a weight I understood all too well, though he had none of my tremendous power.
With him, life was simple. Fun
Easy. Warm. Like such warmth I had never known before, that herded me forward even in the deepest winter chill. I had someone to look forward to coming home to who was as happy to see me as anything.