#it's honestly been so cute to see zero's growth throughout the patches

[mnemosyne-xiv]

"So, it seems that you truly are the savior of the Thirteenth." A sigh escaped Remia while she walked beside the memoriate, her companion's hat in hand. "And here I was sure you'd die in the battle against Zeromus."

"You sound almost disappointed I survived," Zero replied with a chuckle. "Yet when you called out after I was struck by darkness, I could have sworn you cared about me."

"Don't let it get to your head."

"Am I mistaken then?"

Remia rolled her eye. "Always."

Slowing to a stop, Zero turned to look down at the voidmage, her gentle smile faltering. "Now that Azdaja is saved and Golbez has agreed to work with me to restore our world, I won't be returning to the Source."

"And I should care, why?" Came the miqo'te's bored response.

A breath of silence passed as Zero's expression grew solemn. "This bargain of ours...we won't be able to continue our arrangement."

"That's not up to you to decide." Remia scoffed, looking up at her with a wry smirk. "Gremory and Vetis are going to be joining your little ragtag group and I see no reason for me to not spend time here as well. And, you're forgetting that when the others return to the Source, they'll be closing that voidgate meaning you won't be able to acquire resources from the Source. But me? I can open voidgates at will. I can come and go as I please, and take you to and fro with little to no trouble at all. We could even return to the First for you to learn from Ryne on how best to begin restoring your home."

Zero's eyes slowly widened. "Does that mean..." Her voice trailed off, a smile beginning to spread across her lips.

"That our bargain can continue without issue? Yes, yes it does." Remia cutely peered up at her companion. "I still need to find the means to purge this wicked white mage's soul from my own. I've been exploring the Thirteenth all by my lonesome for quite some time now so I see no reason not to continue—but this time I'll have you to accompany me, won't I?"

In the blink of an eye Zero wrapped her arms tightly around Remia, pulling the short woman into her strong embrace. "I'd like that," she murmured softly. "I don't want this to end."

Remia's hands awkwardly hovered around Zero's waist for a moment, unsure of what to do. She could hardly remember the last time anyone had given her a hug let alone expressed their heartfelt desire for her to stay. It filled her chest with a strange warmth. Had a smile curling her lips. Tears stung the corners of her eyes while her heartbeat began to quicken. Was this..?

When Zero's arms around her tightened, Remia exhaled a heavy sigh and returned her hug. "I'm keeping your hat," she grumbled.

"Heh, really?"

"Would you rather I forget you entirely now that you won't be attached to me by the hip?"

The memoriate pulled back just enough to get a clear view of the woman she still held so protectively in her arms. And then she was smiling—truly smiling—and Remia felt her heart skip...

"Don't look at me like that," she mumbled while she glanced off to the side.

That only had Zero's smile widening. "Like what?"

"Just, stop that."

"I don't think I understand. You'll have to be more specific."