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hazelkjt · 3 months ago

Text

"Doing Better"

The finale to this post ----------

Emmanellain waited at the airship dock for what felt like hours. Snow was lightly falling at Falcon's Nest, the exact same as the day on his mind. He had no idea how to respond to Hazel's outburst at the time, people confessing their feelings for him was not something Emmanellain was all that used to.

It took a few weeks after their last unfortunate meeting for Emmanellain to work up the courage to come out to Falcon's Nest. After many chats with Honoroit, Artoirel, and even going to his father for advice, Emm has finally made up his mind. And this time waiting at the dock is the perfect time to get his thoughts in order for when he sees her again. He stopped by the Amelune estate and was (rudely) told by the servant who answered the door they were out for a practice session and to, quote, "fuck off already."

Emmanellain’s thoughts about that uncouth woman were interrupted by the sound of clinking armor approaching. He snaps his head up to find two heavily armored figures approaching, one clad in white and the other red. The one in red was unmistakably Hazel, her face unobscured. Which would make the other woman walking beside her the one and only White Snake of Ishgard, Lia Amelune. Hazel seemed to be walking with a slight limp, holding the side of her right leg. She must have sustain some kind of injury while training today. Though it was clear from the Au Ra’s facial expression that there wasn’t any lasting pain anymore, just soreness perhaps.

Despite this, Emmanellain jumps up from the wooden crate he was sitting on and races over to the two. “Hazel! Are you alright!?” He knew the question was rhetorical but he felt he had to ask anyway. The Auri woman’s eyes shoot open as she looks in the direction of the yelling, taking a step back in reaction…right on to her injured leg. She winces slightly while bringing her hands over her heavily beating heart, as if trying to calm it through the layer of armor of her chestplate.

“Emm! What are you-why are you here!?” The end of Hazel’s tail flicked back and forth erratically, slapping the end of the spear that rested upon her back. Emmanellain was poised to respond until he felt a chill from his side: Lia Amelune was standing there with her arms crossed, not moving a muscle. Even from underneath her helmet he could feel her intense stare on him. Clenching his fists to steel his nerves, while also trying his best to keep his knees from chattering together, Emmanellain turns to face the White Snake. “Pardon me, madame. I would like a word alone with Hazel. If that’s agreeable with you?”

Lia’s expression was unreadable under her helmet. She continued glaring daggers at Emmanellain for what felt like an eternity before turning to address Hazel. “Do not be late back tonight.” She ordered her apprentice and began walking off to the airship waiting for her. The two remaining stood in silence until the ship departed the dock, at which time Emm let out a breath of relief. “She is certainly intense…” he mutters under his breath, turning his attention back to Hazel.

The Au Ra was balancing most of her weight off her hurt leg, grasping at her arm and avoiding looking in Emmanellain’s direction entirely. “You didn’t answer my question.” She still wasn’t looking at him, but her tone made it clear she was indeed referring to Emm. The Elezen man clears his throat and takes a deep breath. “I came to see you…I had to.” From the heart, just as Honoroit said. Hazel’s tail stops for a moment and her posture straightens before she lets out a frustrated sigh.

“I told you to drop it.” Her brow was furrowed but at least she was looking towards him now. Emmanellain shakes his head in response, shifting his posture and crossing his arms. “It is precisely because you told me to forget what you said that I can’t.” Hazel’s eyebrows rise ever so slightly at this, her cheeks turning ever so lightly pink. Emmanellain continues. “It seems your mind is quite made up, so let me ask why. Why should I forget?”

Hazel stands there speechless for a few moments. She didn’t expect this kind of questioning from Emmanellain of all people. She opens her mouth to speak but is cut off by Emm. “The truth…please?” He smiles towards Hazel, but a hint of sadness present his eyes as he does so. The Au Ra clicks her tongue and breathes in through her teeth out of frustration, but nods silently to his request. “…You’re incredible, you know that?” The out of nowhere compliment from Hazel catches Emmanellain off guard, his cheeks and the tips of his ears turning red.

Hazel continues, limping towards the end of the airship dock. “You’re the son of a high house family, you’re kind and considerate, when you put your mind to it you’re great with people, and you’re a hell of a lot smarter than you let on. If you put the hard work and honest effort in you could probably pull whoever you wanted as a partner…certainly someone better than me…” her voice trails off near the end but this time Emm catches every word. He begins to make his way towards her, not able to help being shocked. “Wha-do you truly think that little of yourself?”

Hazel shrugs her shoulders and turns to face Emmanellain again. “Think about it, I’m just some random girl who grew up out in the middle of nowhere compared to here. I lucked into this apprenticeship with Lady Amelune but that’s it. I’ve got nothing going for me outside my skills in a fight. I’m a nobody here and you’re a somebody, it’s pretty simple. I was just kidding myself, thinking I had a chance…” A sad chuckle ends Hazel’s little explanation while Emm stood there speechless.

He could hardly believe the words out of her mouth. Hazel was putting herself down so far? Hazel? Emmanellain tries to speak but can’t find what to say. Hazel gives a sad smile, shaking her head. “Growing up I got used to all kinds of stares and leers.” She touches her cheek, right on her black scales. “They’re becoming more common with each generation but having them be this black is still pretty rare. Not to mention…” she gestures downwards to her body. “…not that many Auri women get this tall either. Even in my own tribe I could feel people constantly staring, because I was different.”

The Au Ra began walking again, absentmindedly pacing around. “Eventually I stopped feeling the stares, until I came here to Ishgard. It’s not all that surprising I guess, knowing now that Ishgard’s got…history with the Xaela.” Emmanellain flinches slightly at this, but stays silent. Hazel continues again. “Pretty soon it was back to the same feeling of eyes constantly being on me, looking down on me…except for you.” She looks back to Emm once more, the same sad smile on her face. “That night, at the party, I didn’t see that glint of discomfort or disgust in your eyes. You were just being genuine with me, and I guess I latched on to that…” Emmanellain takes another step towards Hazel as she finishes airing her thoughts, catching the glimpse of something in her eye. Are those…tears?

Hazel’s breath catches in her throat as Emmanellain suddenly lunges forward and grabs her hand. “Hazel.” His confident tone of voice shocks her, unable to look away from him. He continues on, gripping her hand tightly in his own. “You are so much more than you believe yourself to be. Your passion, your drive, your sense of humor, your intellect, your beauty…you are the incredible one between the two of us.” Her cheeks blush brighter at his words.

“You are an inspiration to me, I strive to become the person you believe I can be, and perhaps one day I will be. But even then, I don’t know if I would be worthy of your hand.” The tears begin to fall from Hazel’s eyes as Emm gives her a sincere smile in return. “You are the one who could do better than me.” He declares as Hazel uses her free hand to wipe her face free of tears.

Emmanellain proceeds to pull her into a hug, making sure to avoid the sharp bits of metal protruding from her armor while doing so. Hazel complies, sobbing into his chest for a few minutes while the two remain mostly in silence. Eventually she breaks away from the tight embrace but still holding close to Emm, her hands now resting on his chest. “I…I’m sorry.” It was all Hazel could get out between sniffling and wiping away more tears. Emmanellain chuckles, Hazel feeling it rising in his breast as he does. “Well, if you still believe I could do better than you, my father can attest that I am quite the underachiever. Par for the course, really.”

Hazel shakes her head but laughs all the same at Emm’s comment. He places a hand under her chin and pulls her line of sight to meet his own, another sincere smile on his face. “It took me quite a while to figure this out, and far too long to return your words. But, better late than never I suppose. I love you as well, Hazel.” With these words a large weight felt as if it was removed from both of their chests, Hazel’s tail now swaying back and forth fully and wildly.

The Auri woman couldn’t help but smile and begin laughing, tears still flowing down her face. Emmanellain joins her chorus of laughter with his own, helping to walk the limping woman to the bench to await the next airship to arrive. As the two sat down, Hazel leaned her head against Emm’s shoulder, her horn gently resting upon him. He begins to open his mouth to speak, but instead opts to remain quiet. Emmanellain then slowly begins to snake his hand into Hazel’s, a gesture the Au Ra returns gratefully. The two sat in silence for who knows how long, keeping warm all due to their newfound love. And it was all they needed.

#ffxiv #ffxiv gpose #ffxiv screenshots #ffxiv oc #au ra #xaela #hazel kha #Reg!Hazel #elezen #emmanellain de fortemps #emmazel #and HERE is where it becomes official #slowly getting confident with my writing again #going “fuck it we ball” has helped a lot

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