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itsmeowlee · 7 days ago

Text

Rating: General

Ship: Lito/Hien

Summary: Lito and Hien duel for Lito’s darkest secrets and a rematch for a botched hunting competition. Something starts to stir between them.

have a teeny tiny little ficlet I wrote for myself. 🤲🏽

The night air was cool as it breezed between the two poised duelists. Lito's hand gripped the hilt of his katana tightly, eyes focused and sharp on the Doman lord that stood in front of him, who held his own weapon out at the ready. Both were still as marble, their stares unflinching on each other, neither dared to spare a moment to blink. A karkul bleeted softly somewhere in the distance; the only sound to break the silence as if it were the signal to begin. Lito pivoted, his foot dug into the earth as he launched himself forward at incredible speed. It nearly startled the hyur with how quick the sword was thrust at him. He angled his katana expertly, which just barely managed to catch the advancing sword before it reached him. A bright spark and sharp clang rang out when he blocked it. It did not stop the miqo'te's onslaught, the angle of Lito’s blade already adjusted and swung anew in a silver arch that aimed for Hien's back, his neck, his side. The sharp sound of metal hitting metal pierced the quiet air as Hien kept up pace to block each relentless attack. Both their feet glided over the grass, the soil stirred as they spun in a sort of dance while Hien tried to keep his duelist from striking him.

Finally the blows ceased, the pair parted once again back to their starting positions in a standstill.

"You're quicker than I expected." Hien complimented, the hint of exertion on his breath. He hadn't even the chance to make a blow of his own while he focused on fending off Lito's attacks.

The miqo'te swirled his blade with a prideful flourish. "I'm full of surprises.~" he preened. The long feathers draped from his cap lent well to the peacocking he was doing. “I didn't expect you to be so good at blocking. But can you keep it up, I wonder...” His voice purred, the corners of his lips curled in a confident smirk.

Their weapons raised for another go. Lito made the initiative once again, quickly pouncing with focus to strike hard and with the same intense speed as before. By now Hien had a read on him and his tactics. Lito was dramatic in his movement, his strikes too wide and unbalanced for wielding a katana despite his speed. Lito’s first strike forward was blocked, and just as he started to pivot to Hien’s side, the prince stuck out his foot anticipating the attempt to get behind him, tripping the Miqo’te into a stumble.

Lito squawked as he attempted to rebalance, but Hien was ready, and used his sheathe to knock him completely over. Lito tried to slice at the air as he fell, but a quick flick of the hyur's sword fully dislodged the weapon from his hand and sent it flying, the blade sunk into the ground a few fulms out of reach. Lito landed hard on his back with a wheezing grunt as the hyur’s figure stepped to tower over him quickly, his feet on each side of Lito’s hips. Hien's blade swung out and stopped at Lito’s neck, the sharpened point rested gently under his chin.

Hien grinned warmly at the miqo'te below him. “I happen to be good at things besides blocking, it seems. I believe I take the victory.”

Lito tsk'ed through his fangs, ego plainly bruised. “Only because I'm not as experienced in this fighting style as you.” He pushed the blade away from his throat with the back of his hand.

Hien chuckled, and offered out his own to help him up to his feet. “Perhaps, but you did agree to the terms. A deal is still a deal.”

Lito dusted himself off with a growl when he stood. A clawed finger pointed accusingly at the prince. “I'm challenging you to a hunting competition. A proper one, this time.” he barked.

Hien scoffed, shaking his head disappointedly. “You still owe me a secret from this loss. I hope you're not trying to get out of promises?”

“No, I keep my word. I simply want to prove I'm not so easily outdone.” Lito huffed, his arms crossed over his chest. “I was…hindered by the other two.” His ears flattened remembering how Ral and Lilitt had wasted all the bait in a single spot in their contest. The horror! Making him look bad at hunting! He didn't think he'd let that grudge go for quite some time.

Hien chuckled. “Is that so? Alright then, I'll take you up on a rematch, but I'll have that promise of yours kept afterwards.”

“It’s a deal, Shun.”

Gosetsu waited at the usual spot for the competitors to bring back their hauls. A head soon crested the hill, Hien the first to arrive, with Lito running in not long after.

“Seems I've beaten you for time, at least. And you might be disappointed to know I've brought seven marks back with me this time.” Hien said proudly.

“Oh, is that all? I suppose I just had a slightly harder time carrying back my twelve.” Lito boasted.

“Tw- by the Kami, you must be joking.”

“Twelve seems to be right. The boy certainly can hunt, my lord!” Gotsetsu guffawed as he counted up the carcasses piled in front of him. Lito puffed out his chest proudly.

“I told you I'm not so easily outdone.”

“I suppose I underestimated you once again.” Hien scoffed, the corner of his mouth pulled in an easy smile. He would give him one thing, he was deadly as a tiger and twice as persistent in whatever challenge he seemed to face. Something about the warmth of Hien’s gaze made Li'to's soften, his prideful stance loosened as they stared wordlessly at each other.

“Not to worry, I shall carry these back to the settlement.” spoke Gosetsu, who’s voice momentarily interrupted whatever air was forming between the young competitors. “After all, there are so called promises to be kept!” The older man beamed.

–

The night continued to stretch on, the vista of endless rolling plains interrupted only by the few large boulders that jutted out from the grass in tall pillars, the fluffy white silhouettes of sleeping karkuls peppered across the fields, and the two figures sat next to each other in an empty clearing. One sat with his head in his hands out of embarrassment as the one beside him laughed loudly.

“Oh, but that is such a cute nickname! Lili~ Lili~”

“You don't need to repeat it so much.” Lito growled, running his hands down the skin of his temples.

“Apologies, but it is only fair.” Hien hummed, which only earned another simmering grumble from Lito. “Or perhaps I could call you Tiger Lili, I think it fits you rather well.” He cooed, his head bobbed side to side playfully.

Lito's face blew up bright red, his own head swiveled in two curt shakes. “You will just call me by my correct name and nothing else.” he huffed in irritance, his hand swatting out at the air next to him when it earned another chuckle from the prince. He sighed and propped the crook of his arm on his knee, the back of his hand cradling his head. “It’s.. actually a very important name, to me.” He spoke quietly, his tone changed as he stared out at the sky. The grass was hued blue by how bright the sea of countless stars shined down on the pair.

Hien’s brow furrowed together in confusion, he leaned forward in an attempt to get a read on the miqo’te’s expression. He let the silence hang till Lito spoke again.

“It’s a poor bastardization of the name I was given by my tribe to be fair– I had to change it somewhat when I was on my own in Eorzea– but I still hold it's original close to me in my own way.”

“I see.. I apologize if I upset you.”

“No need to apologize, as you said, it’s only fair.” Lito grinned, the mischievous spark back in his voice. “I know I’ll struggle not to tease you on your own nickname.”

Hien chuckled. “Well I’d thank you to try and have restraint. I do have some sort of image to maintain.” He leaned back on his hands, a lengthy sigh left his nostrils. The anxious weight of where his thoughts lingered weighed heavy in his chest. “At least, I will if we manage to win the Naadam... I won’t lie and say I am not nervous to lead my people to a possible early grave once again. They’ve already had their spirits broken enough by my foolish mistakes.” His expression turned grim, the muscles in his neck tightened.

Lito made a sound of agreement. “Mm, yeah, that’s the sort of mistake only a stubborn idiot repeats. But I think you’re a smarter person than that. A kind person. I think you’re going to really build a greater future for your people, Hien.” He looked over to him with a wry smile, orange eyes glowing like bright fire in the dark.

Hien softened, the gentleness in Lito's firey eyes seemed to warm something in his chest from the inside out. “You know, you are actually kinder than you give yourself credit for as well.”

Lito's brows furrowed, and he stood to his feet quickly. “I think you’re seeing things that aren’t there.” He bristled, his hand reached reflexively to his chest, and held the cloth there loosely as he avoided the earthy green eyes that watched after him still. His voice lowered “I should probably head back to the camp, they’ll need all the help they can get preparing the meat I brought back before it goes bad.”

He left in a hurry, leaving Hien alone on the empty plain. A breathy chuckle escaped his lips as he stood to watch after the retreating figure. He didn’t understand why Lito took such effort to hide that softer self from the world, or what he’d need to do to expose it yet again. Or what suddenly made him so determined to do so in the first place. Whatever it was, it left him beaming as he began to follow slowly after the miqo'te, filled with a new spark of excitement to fight alongside him in the morning.

#wolhien #hienwol #ffxiv #hito #liien #whatever their ship name is now #im gonna cook a much more in depth convo fic w them later for when they trust eachother more #but for now i wanted to cook a small thing. a fix-it fic for when the tankards RUINED that hunting competition quest

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