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yzeltia · 6 months ago

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Closer to You

Chapter 20 Characters: Jannie Fortemps Natsu Obinata, Artoriel Fortemps, Haurchefaunt Fortemps, Keith Summers, Kierian Summers, Violet Fisher, Bounding Otter, U'rahn Nuhn, Patient Heaven, U'rahn's Daughters, Fuyu'li cen Zwhan, Drowning Thunder, Y'zel Tia Rating: T for T Notes: Thanks to @biot08 again so so so much for helping me get through all of this before DT.

- 2 Years Later -

[Jannie]

“I can’t thank you enough Miss Obinata, or is it Mrs. now?” Jannie asked, bouncing little Haurchefant on her waist before handing him over.

Natsu smiled, brushing the boy’s hair from his face then poking his nose. “That…is a bit complicated,” she laughed before returning her attention to Lady Fortemps as Lord Arteriole Fortemps frantically looked through their diaper bag to ensure nothing had been missed. “My goodness, Haury is getting so big.”

“Don’t remind me. He’s already caught onto some words. I thought my husband might murder U’rahn when he started saying ‘Nuhn’,” Jannie mused before leaning in to kiss her son on the forehead. “Arty will be back after seeing me off, though if it isn’t a bother I’d like for him to come drop him off with you now and then just so that he can play with U’rahn’s girls. This contest will be brief, I hope. I really hate to go.”

“That won’t be a problem at all. The little huntresses love playing with him and I’m sure you’ll be back before he can miss you too much. You two go enjoy some time together while you can,” Natsu said, helping little Haurchefaunt wave by to his parents before the two left to have a much needed mommy and daddy night.

“Smile!�� the little boy said before babbling incoherently, Natsu in turn giving him a wide grin.

[Keith]

“Ah. Hey! Natsu. Uh…so…you haven’t seen G’khenna or Khloe around have you,” Keith breathed out, Kierian on his back and holding onto him. “You see, I was supposed to go get them in Idyllshire and Rowena said I owed her a bunch of gil for outfitting and I’m really hoping Mr. Gage just gave them a small errand or something small to do. Maybe for Silent Courel?”

“Um…,” Natsu said, looking up as she bounced U’Nyxia on her lap while the rest of the girls ran around screaming and laughing behind her in the yard. “They had come through telling the girls about a city full of treasure or something? Sounds like they were eager to break in their adventure plates. Did you check the docks? G’k mentioned heading over with the others to Tural.”

“Tural…Tural…They’re going to…,” Keith trailed, face going pale. “Kierian…pray for your pops, cause Daddy Raha is going to kill him.”

[Violet]

“Listen! Listen! Listen! It was so cool! So Apple went up to her and- You’re not listening,” Violet wined, nudging Natsu in the rib, nearly causing her to spill her drink.

“Sorry. I just got a little lost in thought…and how can you stand this stuff. It tastes like I’m drinking liquid tree bark,” she said, sticking her tongue out at her mug of ale before taking another swig of it anyway.

“You’re just starting to refine your palate. I promise when I get back from Tural I’ll bring a keg of rum for us. Speaking of which, I can’t believe I’m leaving your brother-in-law in charge of The Final Pillar,” she asked, watching as the clumsy Roe accidentally knocked over a glass then panicked and tripped one of the taps as his hand slapped backward against it.

Natsu laughed, “He’ll be fine. He was a rather popular mixologist where he’s from. Though, when it’s time for him to go…,” she trailed.

“No worries. P’ebaloh said she’ll cover him for the other half of the month,” Violet assured her. “You enjoy your time with your man.”

“And you do the same with yours,” Natsu hummed, causing Violet to flush. “It seems everyone is going west. It’s going to be lonely without everyone. Certainly a lot quieter.”

“Hardly with the little huntresses and Haury running around,” Violet said, smirking. “You know, you and Drowning didn’t have kids right? In that other place. What about now? You’ve got the daycare and I’m sure someone is already prodding him for grandchildren.”

Natsu went crimson. “We’re so young again…And it’s not like we didn’t want any. There’s just certain…difficulties we ran into,” she said, looking at Violet then running her bare hands down the side of her mug.

Violet nearly spit her drink as she watched the gesture before erupting into roaring laughter. “S-Sorry. I’m sure that’s a sensitive issue. Um, there’s…there’s ways of, helping minimizing that situation. I’ve had my share of Roegadyn men before letting Riol anchor me down.”

Natsu avoided eye contact for a moment. “I cannot believe you’re a Doman princess. Has your brother heard you talk like that?”

“Shh! Shhhh Shhh Shhh!” Violet hissed as Natsu took her turn to laugh.

[U’rahn]

“Absolutely not! You are just asking for someone to get hurt,” Natsu huffed, hands on her hips as she looked between U’rahn and Patient as they held out blueprints for a small rollercoaster. “This is a daycare! Not an amusement park. The little train around headquarters is perfectly sufficient to entertain the children. We don’t need…whatever deathtrap that is running off the back of the house. Furthermore…furthermore- Girls! Get those bows off of Erick Jr.’s before you knot his fur.”

Natsu gave U’shtola and U’vi a stern look before the two girls started to undo the makeover they’d started on the furbul. “Anyroad. There answer is a firm no.”

U’rahn’s ears lowered as he folded up the plans. “I just wanted to make something really cool before I have to go. With the Herrro Coaster they’d remember how brave their dad is even if he’s far away! And with the Nuhn hugging bars of protection they’d be extra super safe. How can you say no to this face,” he said before scooping U’bylti up and holding her out to Natsu.

“I want to plant a rose garden! Can we do that,” the little huntress said to Natsu.

“Of course we can. Lady Fortemps left us some nice bulbs and if we ask Miss C’orretta really nicely I bet she can help make them grow so that they bloom-”

“PINK!” U’bylti answered with a laugh before squirming free to run after U’klynt as she passed by.

Patient shook her head, “None of those were the patented names Rahn.”

“They’re very good names though.”

Patient grimaced and looked to Natsu who sighed and watched U’sette and U’lolamo color pictures on a table. Smiling, she walked over then knelt down to look at U’sette’s rather perfectly drawn dragon then to U’lolamo’s, what appeared to be a mostly princess in a bright blue tul gown standing on a pile of knocked out soldiers flexing her arms.

“I think your daddy is looking for projects to keep him here so he doesn’t have to be away from you,” she said, looking back to U’rahn as he looked over the blueprints again with Patient, his ear flitting toward her.

“Daddy has to go,” U’lolamo said, looking up at Natsu.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. He’s run out of stories. He’s super boring now,” U’jannie echoed.

U’rahn’s ears fell flat as he turned to the girls, eyes brimming with tears. “I-I’m borrring?”

The eight girls nodded, not looking away from their various projects and playthings, causing the Nuhn to drop to his knees in despair. Patient sighed, reaching down to gently pat his back with the end of the blue prints. “Daddy is…borring…okay. This is okay…This is okay…This is okay…”

U’nyxia wandered over, bending and tilting her head to look into his face. “It will be okay! You’ll go across the sea with Nyx, and Auntie Wuk and bring us back lots of new stories. Okay?”

U’rahn looked up, then rose to his knees before hugging his first born tight, trying to disguise a little sob of happiness. “You bet! I will bring you back stories!”

Natsu smiled as he dried his tears, the Nuhn nodding to Patient once before running out the door. While relieved that the commotion was over, she looked back to the girls. “I…I think he forgot he was also here to take you home.”

[Fuyu’li]

“Things are going great here. I feel like I’ve really found my home among the alchemists of The Great Work! Azdaja and I are getting closer as well. I am learning draconic, though I am finding it rather difficult as our mouths simply cannot imitate some of their consonants. It is amusing for us at least when Vrtra is busy with his Satrap duties or off playing with the children,” Fuyu’li’s voice sounded from Natsu’s tombstone.

“I’m glad things are going well. So we’ve abandoned saying Master all together?” Natsu mused, painting her toenails as she leaned against Drowning Thunder as he read quietly to himself. She hummed, imagining the other erupting into a shade of red in frustration on the other end.

“We are…more than regent and subject. It makes him uncomfortable to be addressed as such given the intimacy we share and he insists on equality. Sometimes he feels more mortal than dragon, though there times he had his draconian moments. He can be possessive at times…and for some odd reason he’s given me a rather beautiful egg to watch over as a symbol of our bond. It looks rather expensive, and he’s not one to give gifts so I am sure this is a great gesture for dragonkind.”

“Uh…” Drowning sounded, eyes wide looking down at the phone. “Does he know how-?”

“Does he know how what?” Natsu asked.

“Y’know, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it,” Drowning said before hiding behind his book.

“Excuse me Fuyu’li. I need to interrogate my husband,” Natsu huffed before ending the call.

After a brief explanation, Natsu went quiet. “...We can not be the ones to tell him.”

[Y’zel]

Natsu sighed softly before looking up as Pouncing wandered by to refill her tea. “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “Are we making sandwiches this evening?”

“Of course! I’ll teach you how to cut apples into rabbits too if we have time,” Pouncing answered before heading back to the kitchens.

She couldn’t remember how long it’d been since they’d seen one another. Too long to be sure. As Y’zel wandered in, she looked up, the other dressed in Doman silks, looking rather nervous as he looked about headquarters. Taking a seat across from her, he reached out and quickly downed her cup. “Hey!”

“S-Sorry. I am just a bit nervous. It’s still a bit embarrassing to be out like this…I still really haven’t…apologized enough to them,” Y’zel said softly.

“I think somewhere around the fifth time we started getting inundated. You should visit more. You’re missed,” she said, reaching out to touch his arm.

“I know…Yet between having to swing duties as a consort and keeping up with my work. Not to mention Claudien still has me checking in with him as often has not let up in his possessiveness. I’m spinning plates,” he said before lowering his head to hit his head against the table.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You’ve got two handsome men who are absolutely crazy about you, not to mention Ioh’juhn makes it no secret that he steals you away. You have exactly what you wanted,” Natsu sighed, rolling her eyes.

“I guess I do…Um, speaking of which. How is Drowning…or is Bounding with us now,” Y’zel asked as he lifted and sat back.

“Fine. The moon wanes so I have Drowning but he is with his mom today,” she answered, watching Y’zel’s ears fold back as he grit his teeth.

“I see…”

“Leonnioux is well though. He sends his love. Still adjusting…,” she said. “You should go see him. When Drowning and Bounding must trade again.”

“I’ve…I’ve lost my will to go to that place. I’m unworthy of the mantle or the grace,” Y’zel said weakly, “Perhaps when it is my time I might be fit to return. Until then, he’ll just have to find his way to me.”

“Oh my goodness. You are so dramatic. How are you so dramatic? You were not this bad when you were little,” Natsu laughed.

“Well of course you’d think that. You’ve only seen me as me and I didn’t fancy myself as dramatic. Maybe romantic, but not dramatic.”

Natsu smiled then looked at her brother’s ears and frowned. “Did the Mol’s cure work? For your ears?”

Y’zel shook his head. “No, I’m still relying on my Echo. It’s fine though. I’ve no shortage of aether to expend as always. It’s been three years so I’ve learned to live with it. Speaking of which…,” Y’zel started before looking around. “Has Zoissette departed? I brought her a silk scarf from Doma as a present.”

“I believe she departed for Tural on a submarine already. I wasn’t able to see her off because I was busy with the daycare,” Natsu said, sitting up a little.

“Right…Well, I shall endeavor to find her when I make the journey over there myself. I am to act as an envoy of Doma and extend our friendship toward the current and eventual Dawnservent. Something I actually feel I can do for Doma,” he sighed, before running his finger around the saucer. “It is not long before my ship departs for that matter. It was good to talk though while we can. I promise I will return come the Summer Faire. We can go see the fireworks together,” he continued moving to take his leave.

Natsu blinked then furrowed her brow. “Wait. Is that it?”

Y’zel turned, “What do you mean is that it?”

Natsu huffed, standing up. “You mean you brought a fine scarf from Doma for Zoissette but not something for your precious little sister?”

Y’zel fluttered his ears before sticking out his tongue at her. “I don’t ever get any gifts from you. I had to take your tea because you didn’t have the foresight to order me any. Zoisette would have had a whole kettle ready. And some oats too,” he sniffed before heading toward the door with a little laugh.“Y’zel you are literally the worst big brother ever!”

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