#series: dalmascan requiem

[dalmascan-requiem]

[dalmascan-requiem]

For both of them, it's their carnation earring! Gale got them as a gift back in Dalmasca, and while the earrings themselves are nothing special, they're very important to them. Both the boys always wear them--even during the time Kris goes MIA as the WoL for four years. It's a small token of their love for one another c:

What is your WoL's most precious item?

[dalmascan-requiem]

Vierapril Day 15 - Conceal

"The hair extensions look real, impressive. I'll have to figure out where Gemna got them..."

Gale's always been good at disguising himself--essential when you're working in the business of selling sensitive information. The last thing he wants is for anyone to recognize him when he's out on a job... because it's likely they'll want his head.

(vierapril main post)

[dalmascan-requiem]

"What was that? You need something? You best make it worth my time... and my time is very valuable."

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem Moments: Facades

(Vierapril Day 30 - Free Choice)

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It's not always easy to be yourself.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

(vierapril main post)

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Another short fic of the boys being cute--and Laurent teasing Gale for a change LOL. This fic got shuffled around a few times with the Vierapril prompts, the other inspirations might be a bit obvious, haha.

Laurent steals a glance at the Viera lying on his chest. Gale was facing away from him, but he could tell by his slow, even breathing that he'd fallen asleep. So cute… He shifts his weight slightly–slowly, so as not to wake Gale up–and idly plays with a strand of powder blue hair.

How did I come to be so lucky? Laurent may not have lacked for attention as a Wood Warder, he never really knew what true affection was… at least, not until he lost it. Gale had always been there for him and cared for him–and while the village scorned Gale for being 'a bad Wood Warder', he could never come to hate him. 

After Laurent was exiled from the village, he never dreamed of seeing Gale again, having left the forest to chase him down. Nor did he dare dream the other Viera loved him… it would be far too good to be true.

Yet here they were, sharing a bed… sharing their life. He couldn't be happier waking up and seeing Gale's sleepy emerald eyes light up as the morning sun shined through the window, or falling asleep together in each other's arms.

But more than that, and more than anything, he liked Gale's silence.

Of course, Laurent knew it didn't sound like a compliment, despite him not meaning it negatively. Gale had to put on acts and facades, and sometimes he did so without even realizing it. Whether that act was to attract attention, distract someone, or gain information, he acted as someone he wasn't. And sometimes, he simply did it to protect himself emotionally. Not that I can blame him after everything that's happened…

Those rare times, though, when Gale let his guard down and was simply himself… he was so quiet. It concerned Laurent at first–he was so unaccustomed to it, he thought he'd something to upset Gale. 

Eventually, though, he realized the silence was a sign of comfort and that Gale didn't feel the need to say anything. He felt safe and content simply being, and Laurent treasured that feeling more than anything. At times, they could just lay here like this, in silence, enjoying one another's company.

Of course, there are times when Eir still teases me relentlessly… Laurent smiles as he looks down at Gale again. But I suppose we need some excitement, too.

One day, Laurent will make sure they have a peaceful life–one where Gale doesn't have to conceal his true self, where he doesn't need to take so many dangerous jobs to survive in Rabanastre.

For now, though, he'll just have to make sure they savored these quiet moments.

Laurent gently brushes his fingers against one of Gale's ears, causing it to twitch and for him to stir slightly. "Mn, that tickles…" After a moment, he lifts his head up, sleepy emerald eyes meeting Laurent's own. "I'm sorry, my love, I seem to have fallen asleep…"

"Don't apologize, Eir." Laurent strokes Gale's cheek, smiling. "You were tired, I'm fine being your pillow. Besides…" The slightest hint of a smirk appears on his face before he continues. "...it's peaceful when you're quiet."

"What…? Wait, what does that mean?!"

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem: Dress

(Vierapril Day 25 - Desire)

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Dreams can be mirrors of the mind's desires... sometimes literally.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: NSFW 🔞

(vierapril main post)

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First attempt trying to write something a bit spicier. Still not completely explicit... but not safe for work, lol

"Stop pulling at the fabric! It's expensive!"

"I know! It's just… It's just not covering my–"

"That is the point, Gale! Stop moving, I'm trying to put this eyeliner on–"

Laurent sighs as he listens to the two bickering. After the two were reunited, Gemna had taken Gale under her wing–to "teach him more about espionage" as she said. He never realized the Bangaa had been so adept at gathering information… but in hindsight, it made sense. She did always seem to have a job for him or some lead to track, after all.

And despite being good at the job already, Gale still had much to learn about gathering and selling information. He was receptive to Gemna's help and advice, and though it's only been a few months, Gale's been putting the lessons to good use.

But they had rather… assertive personalities, so every lesson came with a healthy dose of bickering and in-fighting. It gives me such a headache…

"So, Laurent, how do I look?"

"Hm?" He looks over to the other Viera, and his frustration quickly turns to shock.

Gale's black dress was simple, but it clung to his figure in all the right places, and the long skirt had a slit that cut all the way to his waist. It easily drew the eyes to his legs and hips, made all the more distracting thanks to the high heels he confidently was wearing. 

I've never seen someone so beautiful before…

"...Laurent?" Gale frowns slightly at him, the faintest hint of nervousness crossing his face. "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh! No, you…" Hells, how long had I been staring? What is wrong with me? "...you look good, Gale."

Gale smiles a little but doesn't say anything in reply, nor does the unease leave his expression. I think I upset him, but…

"Gods, Laurent, you'd think complimenting the man is torture the way you're acting." Gemna comes out of the other room and rolls her eyes at Laurent.

"It's not that, Gemna, I just wasn't… used to…"

"Don't mind him, Gale, you look great. I'm sure Laurent agrees. Don't you?" Gemna gives him a look that says you'd best shut up and nod, and he gives a quick nod in response.

"Good. Now, Laurent, you need to keep an eye on him while he's out tonight. The outfit doesn't leave room to conceal a weapon, so he'll be hard-pressed to defend himself should something happen."

"Right, of course."

"Well, I imagine it won't be too hard to watch Gale tonight anyway, looking as nice as he does. Just don't forget your job." Gemna laughs as she heads back into the other room, and Gale's expression turns to vague confusion as he looks back toward Laurent.

Seven hells, this woman… Laurent pinches the bridge of his nose for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Let's head out, Gale. I'll be right behind you."

~~~

Laurent sinks onto the couch, too tired to head to his bedroom. We're finally done… The job went well and without incident, but it took longer than anticipated–and spending that much time on high alert had been exhausting.

He covers his eyes with an arm and sighs. He thought he heard Gale said something, but he didn't hear what and mumbled a non-commital response before closing his eyes.

"Reyna…?"

"Hm?" Laurent moves his arm and turns to Gale, who was hovering nearly–and he was suddenly reminded of how sexy he looks in that godsdamn dress. "O-oh… What is it, Eir?"

"Are you alright?" Gale sits next to Laurent on the couch, and he's all too aware of the other Viera's thigh pressing against him.

Eir's probably upset with how I've been acting… But I can't just tell him he's so beautiful it's distracting. "I'm fine, Eir, simply tired."

"Oh, is that all?" Laurent might have missed the playful tone in Gale's voice, but he did not miss Gale's hand finding its way onto his inner thigh. "I believe I know the solution to that…"

"Eir, what are you doing–"

Gale gently places a finger on Laurent's lips. "I know what you want. It's writ clear on your face." Gale chuckles as he moves closer, and emerald eyes glint as he drops his voice to a whisper. "What if I told you I want the same?"

He can't mean… no, I'm misunderstanding something. He's just teasing me, or… Gods can he move his hand!? "Eir, I-I…"

"You don't need to talk." Gale traces his fingers down Laurent's chest before gently pushing him into the cushions. "Just enjoy it."

Gale gives him a deep, passionate kiss, then quickly gets to work on removing Laurent's jacket. While this was more than he ever dreamed of, it all seemed rather sudden. W-why is this happening n–

Laurent's thoughts are interrupted when Gale tilts his chin up, and he loses himself in those deep green eyes. "You needn't think so hard. At least, not with that head." Gale chuckles at his joke, then begins kissing him again, leaving faint marks of lip color from Gale's makeup along his neck and shoulders. Gods, his fingers, his lips, his… everything…

After a moment, Gale places a hand on Laurent's lower abdomen, causing his breath to hitch. "May I?" He stops, searching Laurent's face for any sign of discomfort or objection. When he receives a nod in response, however, Gale smiles and wastes no time on working to unlace Laurent's pants.

"Reyna, you know, all these years…" Gale leans into him and lifts his gaze again, a look of lust crossing his features. "...all I ever wanted…" He finishes unlacing, then moves his hand under the fabric, stopping tantalizingly close his shaft.

"...was you."

~~~

Laurent wakes with a small start. Huh? He pulls himself up from the cushions of the couch. Hells… He takes stock of his surroundings. Alone. All clothes in place. Sunlight just beginning to peek through the windows. It was a dream… Gods…

It was then he spotted something on the table nearby–a bowl of fruit, and a note.

You fell asleep as soon as we got back, and I didn't want to wake you. Be sure to eat while you can, you looked flushed. - Gale

I looked flushed… Can't imagine why. Laurent scoffs sarcastically as he grabs a handful of grapes from the fruit bowl. This man… he will be the death of me.

[dalmascan-requiem]

Oh, you made a wrong turn? I beg to differ, my dear... you're right where I want you.

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem Moments: Bath

(Vierapril Day 3 - Rest)

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It's important to feel safe.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

(vierapril main post)

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They're just so sweet ;w; I just find the act of bathing together really loving and intimate, so Gale's main love language is acts of service. It's just nice and fluffy and wholesome

Laurent lets out a contented sigh as he settles into the water. "Your soaps always smell so nice, Eir."

"Of course." Gale chuckles as he runs his hands through Laurent's hair. "I take my hygiene very seriously." He hears Gale grab something from the side of the bathtub before continuing. "The lavender will help you relax. You just finished a job, so you need something to help you rest."

"Hm." The dark-haired Viera sinks deeper into the warm water as Gale gently works soap into his hair. After a moment, Gale begins softly humming--sounds like the song a patron at the tavern taught him a few days ago--and Laurent closes his eyes. This feels nice… 

At first, Laurent didn't really understand why Gale always drew a bath for him when he completed a job and insisted on washing his hair. It's not as though he needed help, even with his long hair--and if Laurent was being honest with himself, the thought of taking a bath together made him feel… vulnerable.

But he couldn't really explain why that was the case. They were not strangers--far from it, having known one another since they were children. And it wasn't as though they hadn't seen each other without clothes on. It just felt different.

But Gale was rather persistent about this new ritual, and eventually Laurent stopped questioning it.

"Fold your ears down, my love."

Laurent snaps out of his ruminations and gives a slight nod before folding his ears flat against his ear. As he feels the warm water run over his head, Laurent instinctively shuts his eyes--even though Gale takes care not to let any of the soap run onto his face. Besides, there was no harm in simply enjoying the moment.

Gale spends a few moments washing Laurent's hair, then silently wraps his arms around him and pulls him close. Laurent leans back against him, and the other Viera softly chuckles in response and kisses him on the top of his head.

As he lay in the warm water, surrounded by the soothing floral smells and his lover's arms, Laurent felt safe. He understood the irony in that, given his senses were addled and his weapons in another room. But his life in the village and as a Wood Warder would never allow this feeling of being able to relax. To feel like being home.

"Reyna…" Gale's singsongy voice is barely above a whisper. Laurent feels fingers ever so slightly tracing down his back, and he is suddenly very aware of his partner and just how godsdamn attractive he was--

"When were you going to tell me about this?"

The light-haired Viera lightly presses a spot on Laurent's back, causing him to jump up in shock. "Gods, Eir, that hurts--"

"It shouldn't." Gale's voice takes a more serious tone, and Laurent could imagine him frowning at his back. "Did you get hurt during the job?"

I had forgotten with the warmth of the bath… Laurent thinks back to earlier in the day. "That's right, the target had someone with them, and I was caught off guard. She kicked me in the back."

Gale sighs. "How can you say all that as if you were out for a stroll?" He holds Laurent again, mumbling mostly into his hair as he continues. "My love, you need to take care of yourself. I worry for you…"

Laurent felt a pang of guilt when he heard Gale's tone, and he reached back to touch Gale's cheek. "I'm sorry, Eir…"

"I'll accept your apology… if you rest for the next few days."

Laurent sighs, but he knows better than to argue. "Very well, my love."

"Good." Gale kisses one of Laurent's ears, his fair mood returning. "I'll keep you company. Make sure you rest."

"Ah, because I get so much rest when you're around." Laurent scoffs as he turns to face the other Viera, draping his arms over Gale's shoulders, and Gale rolls his eyes dramatically. 

"Well, Reyna, if you don't want me around--"

"I do." Laurent cuts his partner off with a kiss, then pulls back with a slight smile. "I love you, Eir."

Gale's expression softens, and he smiles before silently returning the kiss.

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem: Drinks

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Looks, words, gestures--not everything is always as it seems on the surface.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: alcohol, blood, death

Part of FFxivWrite 2023

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For day 4 of FFxivWrite 2023, the prompt is 'off the hook'. It made me want to write a bit about the boys' time as assassins, something I hadn't really done yet.

That does mean this fic is less fluffy and more serious, so keep in mind the content warnings.

Darius was having a great day.

He had been working hard, gathering his protection fees from the nearby shops, and ensuring those that refused to pay up understood the consequences of such actions. Unsurprisingly, the remaining stores and houses in the district paid up once mysterious "accidents" started happening in the area.

Darius chuckled as he thought about all of the money he managed to collect today. The boss would be pleased--but did the boss need to know exactly how much he earned? Surely he can treat himself to a few drinks at the tavern before reporting in.

"Is this seat taken?"

Before he has a chance to respond, the owner of the sultry voice sits next to him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Darius gets ready to tell the woman to shove off, but reconsiders when he looks her over.

With indigo hair and intense emerald eyes, the Viera was extraordinarily beautiful--and the tight black dress she was wearing had a high slit in the skirt that left very little to the imagination.

Taking his silence as consent, the Viera moves closer to Darius, pressing her thigh against his own. "Seems like you're having fun, but I noticed you seem to be sorely lacking in… company." Her fingers very lightly brush against his leg, making it plain what she meant by 'company'. "Buy me a drink?"

Darius smirked at the woman as he waved the bartender over. "You're a bold one, aren't you?" The man knew he wasn't exactly attractive--being a strongarm for his boss required an intimidating, rough demeanor, and the scars and scowls did little for getting partners into his bed. 

He figured this woman was an escort looking to make a tidy bit of cash this evening… not that he minded. A good time was a good time, after all.

She responds with a laugh, its softness causing Darius' mind to wander towards less chaste thoughts. "What's the fun in someone… safe? You seem far more interesting."

The bartender sets down two drinks, and the Viera picks one of them up, holding it towards Darius as a toast. "Let's have a night to remember, shall we?"

~

Darius was having a great night.

Granted, it all felt a blur--the woman was adept at distracting him from everything but herself. Some tiny voice in the back of his head warned that these drinks were much stronger than usual, but before Darius could dwell on the thought, a smirk and a touch brought his attention back to where it really mattered.

After a time that felt far too long and far too short, the Viera leaned close to Darius' ear, her hand sliding to his inner thigh, her voice only a whisper. "Let's get out of here, shall we?"

Darius makes short work of his last drink, leaving a generous tip for the bartender as the two leave the tavern. His head felt a little fuzzy from all the drinking, but he figured that the important bits still worke.

As the two walked along the streets, Darius noticed that they were walking down a particularly secluded road. "Here's as good as anywhere."

The Viera looked at him in confusion. "What was that--oh!" She lets out a breath when he pushes her against a wall, but the surprise quickly melts away to a knowing smirk. "Surely you can wait a bit longer, dear?"

She puts a hand on his chest in an attempt to gently push him away, but he grabs her wrist and pins it against the wall. "No, I think here will do. You wanted to have fun, didn't you?"

When he looks into the woman's eyes, however, he doesn't see any fear, or concern, or hatred… just annoyance. It was then that Darius realized something was wrong--too late as the cool steel of a dagger pressed against his neck.

He staggers back a bit, and the woman calmly smoothes her dress out. "Such a brute…" 

Darius can't see who is holding the dagger behind him, but he figures he is the stronger of the two, and he tries to will his body to turn and attack them. However, his limbs felt heavy, and his mind was unresponsive. He only now realizes that his drinks were laced.

"Too much to drink?" The woman laughs--though this time it's far less sensual and far more sinister. "Well, that's fine, you can still talk."

The person behind Darius kicks the back of his knees, causing him to topple to the ground. The woman kneels down next to him. "I'm looking for your boss, dear. Care to tell me where he is?" She waits a moment for a response, then shakes her head when he stays silent. "I know you're just following orders… Tell you what, you let me know where he is and I'll let you off the hook. You can just head home and sleep it all off. How does that sound?"

The woman's mocking tone made Darius furious--how dare she think she have the upper hand? The boss will make them both wish for death. "You can rot in hell, you whor--"

The man didn't get to finish his insult as blood filled his throat.

~

"Gods, they're always like that." The Viera stands up and watches Darius bleed out on the road with a sigh, lighting pushing the body with his heel.

"Are you alright, Gale?" Another Viera kneels down next to Darius, wiping the blood from the dagger on the man's shirt.

"Yes, I'm fine. You always have impeccable timing, Laurent."

Laurent replies with a grunt and stands up. "I wish you wouldn't put yourself in such danger, though. What if I wasn't here?"

Gale shrugs, then runs his fingers through his dyed hair. "Come now, my love, you can't do your job if I do not do mine. Shame we didn't get any more information from him, though."

"They never take you up on that offer. I don't know why you try, we usually need to kill them anyway."

"It's always worth trying to get more information." Gale digs through the man's pocket and pulls out a pocket watch. "But you're right, all we really needed was this to get in the group's door." 

He tosses the watch to Laurent, then steps over Darius' body. "Let's get going before someone comes by. I need to get this dye out, it makes my hair feel horrible…"

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem: Confessions (Chapter 2)

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With the morning comes many questions... and a splitting headache.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >

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I want to strangle Gale ngl, use your words boy please. Granted that failure to communicate is one of his bigger flaws, I suppose. Let's just hope one of them figures their stuff out.

The sun was bright. Too bright.

Laurent groans as he turns away from the window. Gods, my head hurts. My everything hurts. The sunlight streaming into his room let him know that it was well past noon--but Laurent couldn't muster the strength to get out of bed.

Instead, the Viera wracked his brain, trying to remember what had happened last night. He remembered waiting at the bar for Gale, and became worried when he was running late. Laurent considered going to look for him--he knew the job Gale was on was risky, and he might have run into trouble. 

Gemna, however, scoffed at the idea, telling Laurent to calm down and offering him a drink. The Rava rarely drank, but Gemna knew that Laurent didn't have much of a tolerance for alcohol, and figured the Bangaa wouldn't have made anything too strong.

The rest of the night was a blur. That's what I get for trusting her…

Laurent figures there's no way he would have been able to make it home on his own, and given how Gemna was, it was likely Gale that somehow got him back to the apartment. I'll have to thank him… but…

Whenever Laurent thought of Gale, he felt apprehensive. He wasn't sure why--he'd never felt anything of the sort toward the other Viera before. Something must have happened last night, but he couldn't remember what for the life of him.

Laurent slowly moves his gaze to the bedroom door. He could faintly hear some sounds outside of it--if he had to guess, given the time of day, Gale was making a meal. His stomach protested at the thought of food, but Laurent knew he needed to eat--as well as deal with whatever happened last night.

~

"Ah, you're awake."

"Yes…" Laurent carefully closed the door to his room--mainly to prevent the noise from worsening his splitting headache. Once done, he turned to look at Gale.

The light-haired Rava was in the kitchen and hadn't turned around. He noticed Gale was chopping something slowly. He's trying to be quiet… I'll have to thank him for the courtesy.

Laurent makes ready to speak, but the dull throbbing in his head made stringing the words together difficult--not to mention the constant uneasiness of his stomach. Instead, the silence stretches on for a moment until Gale turns around.

"How are you feeling? Are you alright?" The Viera makes his way over to Laurent, concern clear on his face. He looks so tired… Did he not sleep last night? 

"I… have felt better…" Laurent gives Gale a small smile, but the other Viera quickly breaks eye contact. 

"I know you feel awful now, but don't you worry--we'll get a good meal in you and you'll start to feel better." Gale offers Laurent a smile, then abruptly turns around. "I-I know you probably don't feel like eating, but trust me, it will help." Gale heads back to the kitchen. "Sit down and rest, I'm almost done."

Laurent leans against the sofa with a small sigh. Eir is acting strange… something must have happened. He rubs his temples to try to ease the dull throbbing of his head, but it's largely ineffective.

"...Do you… remember last night at all?" Gale's hesitant question cuts through the silence of the apartment. Laurent frowns.

"No, I don't, whatever Gemna gave me to drink was too strong."

Gale chuckles, but it seems forced. "That's no surprise, she gave you something I normally drink… and even then it was mixed to be stronger than usual." He turns and offers Laurent a plate of food. "Here, this will help."

Laurent looks down at the plate of heavy finger foods with a deeper frown. "...I appreciate the food, Eir, but I'm not sure if my stomach can handle this."

"Trust me, it'll help more than something like a bowl of soup will. I've nursed my fair share of hangovers, Reyna." Gale looks away, staring out the window for a moment before continuing. "I… must apologize."

"Apologize?" 

"Yes, if I hadn't been late, this wouldn't have happened."

Laurent chuckles lightly. "While I appreciate the apology, you know Gemna would have orchestrated this regardless. She does love causing me trouble."

"Causing you trouble? I'm the one that had to carry you all the way home! Do you know how heavy you are!? You just decided you wanted to stop walking!"

"Did I…?" Laurent thought back once again to the night before, and he began to have some murky memories of what happened. Gale helping him out of the bar, and him feeling too dizzy to keep walking. Thinking Gale was stronger than he let on as the Viera carried him. Asking Gale something once they were home, but he couldn't remember what--only the feelings of apprehension returned.

"I thank you for getting me home safely, Eir. I can't remember much, but I feel like I should be the one to apologize. I've caused you a lot of trouble."

"It's fine, Reyna." Gale flashes Laurent a warm smile. "I'm just glad you're okay… relatively speaking."

Laurent can't help to think about how charming Gale looks when he smiles but quickly pushes the thought aside. "Eir, you look tired, did you not sleep?"

"I did not, I think I'll get some rest now. But do let me know if you don't feel better soon." Gale makes his way to his room but stops short of the door. "You truly don't remember anything?"

"I'm sorry, I do not. If I did or said something to upset you--"

"N-no! Nothing of the sort. I was simply wondering. Don't overexert yourself, Reyna."

Gale rushes into his room and before Laurent could respond, leaving him to stare blankly at the door. What in the seven hells…?

The long-haired Viera looks down at the plate of food. He's acting so strange… He sighs as he takes a bite. I hope I haven't messed anything up. I'd hate for Eir to be upset with me…

This past year has been one of the happiest Laurent's been for a while, now. He'd never expected to see Gale again after leaving the jungle, but now that they were together again, he doesn't want anything to happen that would separate them again.

Perhaps… Did I say something I shouldn't have? Laurent's feelings for Gale had always been strong, but he didn't try to deny them or push them away--the Viera was simply happy to be near him. The occasional thought would sometimes have him wishing for more, but those feelings would pass quickly.

Gods, did I tell him my feelings? Seven hells, did I proposition him? No wonder he's acting so weird, Eir is no doubt looking to avoid me now that--

Laurent shakes his head and takes a breath. No, I shouldn't let my thoughts get the better of me. Perhaps in a few days, I can remember what happened--or maybe it'll all blow over and I have nothing to worry about. He sighs as he takes the last bites of his food. Perhaps I'll talk to him tomorrow…

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem: Confessions (Epilogue)

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The boys are late to helping Gemna.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

< Previous Chapter

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I couldn't help but to write something up real quick with Gemna after the two get together, lol. You know she's going to tease them. :)

"Where in the seven hells are they?"

Gemna grumbles into the pot she's stirring as she keeps looking at the door of the bar. Those two were supposed to be here ages ago! Damned lazy--

The Bangaa sighs, unable to continue being angry. She knew that their line of work is dangerous, and that being late would be better than them never returning at all. 

Then again… Gemna dispels the darker thoughts by aggressively stirring the pot. …Gale wasn't even on a job yesterday, was he? And Laurent sent word his job finished early. So they should be fine… But…

Her thoughts are interrupted by the bar door opening and two Viera stepping in. While inwardly Gemna is relieved, she lets out a frustrated sigh as she turns to them.

Gale meets her angry glare with a wide grin. "Good morning, Gemna! I pray we're not late?"

"Not late? It's well past noon, you lazy dolts--"

"Come now, there's no need to be angry! We're here now, right? Laurent just needed some rest after yesterday's job."

Gemna's gaze flicks to the dark-haired Viera, who had taken to cleaning a table and decidedly not making eye contact with either of them, before looking back to Gale. "And what of you? Last I recall you did a whole lot of nothing--"

"Well, I can't leave him to fend for himself in the kitchen, can I?" Gale's amused look doesn't wither when Gemna narrows her eyes. "I would still like to come back to an apartment after today."

If Laurent heard Gale's comments, he made no attempt to refute them, instead focused on a particularly stubborn spot on the table.

…I really need to teach Gale how to lie better. Gemna doesn't respond, instead looking between the two with a neutral expression. Laurent's being quiet--quieter than usual that is--and Gale… he's being loud enough for the both of them--hold on.

Gemna stares at the light-haired Viera, looking him up and down a few times. Gale didn't look outwardly different--he was always careful to maintain his appearance, but as she looked at the long pants and high-collared shirt, she couldn't help but think something was off.

Eventually, Gale's expression falters as she continues staring. "...Gemna, what is it--"

"Why are you wearing that?"

Gale blinks a few times, clearly confused by the question. Gemna knows full well that Gale thinks it's a trap, but regardless can't seem to think of what to say. "I didn't really think much of what to wear, given we were out of time…"

"Hm." Gemna replies with a short grunt as she walks closer to Gale. "I find that hard to believe, young man. This certainly isn't a haphazard outfit, but this is more like… something Laurent would wear. You look like you're hiding something."

"I-I…" Gale was clearly caught off balance by the comment and by how quickly his face was turning red, but huffed in mock anger after a moment. "What, can I not wear something similar to what Laurent wears? It's comfortable, i-it's--"

"--good for covering love bites up."

Somewhere behind Gemna, Laurent lets out a soft, dejected sigh. Hmph, they should have known better than to try and hide this from me…

With that, the Bangaa bursts into laughter. "Well, it's about godsdamn time." The Bangaa returns her attention to the pot. "Next time, Gale, cover any marks up with makeup… it's far less conspicuous."

She continues to chuckle and looks over to Gale out of the side of her eye, wondering what his next excuse would be. To her surprise, however, he simply crosses his arms and huffs. "Yes, well, if there weren't so many--"

The screech of a table moving across the floor cuts him off. "Gale, could you not!?"

Gemna turns to Laurent, who, red from anger and embarrassment, had clearly had enough of the conversation. "Oh, so you can speak. I'd thought you'd forgotten how." She gestures to the table. "You better not have scratched my floor."

"What--I--hells…" Laurent begins cursing as he moves the table, and he and Gale look at the dark mark on the floor it left. The discussion of how to fix it quickly turns to bickering, and Gemna can't help but to smile to herself.

Today will be a fun day, that's for sure.

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem: Confessions (Chapter 1)

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A drunken night forces the Gale to confront his feelings--though he's not the one that's drunk.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: alcohol and drunkeness

Next Chapter >

------

It's about time we learned about when the boys became a couple (finally), right? Anyway, it's three chapters because these two don't understand a damn thing about communicating their feelings. They'll figure it out. Eventually.

"Gemna, what did you even do to him?" Gale looks down at the Viera passed out at the bar with concern, and the Bangaa replies with a scoff. "I didn't do anything to him! I told him he needed to relax and gave him a drink."

Gods, I can see where this is going… "What did you give him to drink, Gemna?" Gale's emerald eyes settle on the tall, empty glass, already knowing the answer.

"You're acting like I poisoned the boy! All I did is give him what you usually drink."

Gale sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Of course she did… "You know Laurent barely drinks, why would you give him the strongest drink you make?" He knew the Bangaa was up to something, but what, Gale didn't know.

Gemna replies with a low growl as she turns around. "Like I said, to relax. You were late getting back and he was aggravating me." The Bangaa begins making another drink. "It's busy, take him home."

"What? He's so heavy! I can't carry him home. Can't he just stay there until he wakes up?"

"He's in the way of the customers."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours, you're the one that was late!"

"Are you serious? It's not like I meant to be--"

Gale is interrupted by a groan as Laurent stirs. "Gale…?" He slowly turns his head while still laying on the bar, but when he sees the light-haired Viera, Laurent sits up with startling quickness. "Gale! You're alright! I was so worried!" 

Laurent flashes him a wide smile. What in the seven hells… is this how he is when he's drunk? Gale clears his throat, trying to process what was happening before responding. "Yes, I'm fine, the job just ran long and--ah!?"

Gale is nearly knocked off his feet when Laurent tips his barstool and crashes into him in a haphazard attempt at a hug. As he awkwardly steadies himself, Gale hears a chuckle behind the counter, though Gemna quickly looks away before their eyes lock. 

She knew this was going to happen… Gale wasn't sure if dealing with this was some sort of punishment, but before he is able to argue with the elderly bartender, Laurent mumbles something into the Viera's chest, where he landed after falling over.

"What was that?" Gale looks down and turns his ears slightly forward in other to hear the other Viera better--but quickly regrets it when Laurent nearly headbutts him when he shoots his head up.

"I said you're so warm! And soft. And comfortable and your voice sounds nice…" Laurent trails off as he rebalances himself on the barstool, and Gale takes the moment to inspect a far corner of the bar, trying to hide the blush that quickly crept up on his face.

He doesn't have long, however, before Gemna places a glass between the two Rava. "Well, look at that, Laurent's awake. Take him home, Gale." There is a mischievous glint in the Bangaa's eye before she continues. "Unless you want to see if he'll get more affectionate with another drink?"

"No, that is quite alright--" Gale quickly takes the drink from the counter before Laurent could grab it, and passes it off to the nearest patron. "--thank you. Come, Laurent, we need to get you home."

"Home? But it's nice here--"

Gale lets out an exasperated sigh. "Yes, but your bed will feel much better to sleep on, trust me. Try to stand, I'll support you."

~

"Seven hells, why are you so heavy?" Gale fumbles with the door to Laurent's room while trying to carry the passed-out Rava on his back. 

At some point on the way home, Laurent had decided he didn't want to walk anymore, and the light-haired Viera had to shift to carrying his friend on his back before he sank onto the ground. Gale knew he wasn't strong enough to pick Laurent up if he happened to lie down somewhere.

Gods, what a nightmare… Gale pulls open the bedroom door, dumping Laurent unceremoniously on the bed. "Finally," Gale mumbles as he stretches his back. "He'll probably need another glass of water, I'll go get it…"

Gale turns to leave, but is stopped when Laurent grabs his wrist. "Wait… Stay with me." 

He looks back to the bed. Laurent is looking up at him, eyes bleary from tiredness, long hair a mess of locks spilling out on the pillow. Oh, he… Gale quickly shifts his gaze to the door. "I'm going to get you some water, I'll--"

"Please, Eir." Laurent gives Gale's wrist a small tug, causing the Viera to look back at him. "Lay with me, I want to hold you. Be close to you."

What? No, he-- Gale shifts his weight as he tries to gather his thoughts. He's not in his right mind. It means nothing.

A small voice in the back of Gale's head reminds him that drunken men will tell the truth quicker than sober ones will, and all of his successful jobs are more than proof of that. He pushes the thought aside as he gently removes his wrist from Laurent's grasp. "Reyna, I… I need to get you water, you drank far more than you're used to, and…I'm worried."

"Wait--"

"I'll be back in just a moment, alright?" Gale doesn't wait for a response as he hurries out of the room and quietly closes the door behind him, before leaning against it. 

Gods… To say that he didn't expect the night to go this way was an understatement. 

What am I to make of this? I never realized… Never realized what, really? Gale sighs as he makes his way to the kitchen, fumbling slightly in the darkened room as he reaches for a glass. Perhaps I need to stop lying to myself. I always knew how I felt.

Gale stares at the glass on the counter, then scoffs. It was so obvious, in hindsight--why would he even be in Dalmasca otherwise? Why else did he spend five years looking for him? 

The Viera slowly fills the glass with water. But I don't know how Reyna truly feels… It was difficult to tell what was the alcohol and what was the other's honest feelings. Gale couldn't very well talk to him about it now, either--it would only confuse him more.

"In the morning…" he mumbles to himself, then heads back towards the room before stopping just short of the bedroom. If I had to guess, Reyna should be asleep again by now--at least, I hope he is.

Gale slowly opens the door and heads into the bedroom without a word. He then lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding when he see Laurent resting soundly. Thank the gods… He makes his way to the nightstand and sets down the glass, but Gale lingers when his emerald eyes fall upon the sleeping figure once more.

When he feels the pang of longing, a tinge of regret that he didn't stay, these feelings that were always there but always ignored until now, Gale lets out a small, frustrated sigh. "Godsdamnit, Reyna, why did I have to fall for you?"

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem Moments: Fish

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Laurent tries to cook dinner. Later, this event would only be known as 'the Incident'.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

Part of FFxivWrite 2023

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FFxivWrite 2023's Day 18 prompt is 'A Fish Out of Water'. When I saw it, I thought "wouldn't it be funny if Laurent tries to cook a fish?" and everything just kind of went from there. He's definitely a fish out of water when it comes to cooking.

This fic's also heavily inspired by this Tales of Arise skit I saw yesterday, lol.

Laurent stares down at the fish with a frown. What kind of fish did Gemna say this was? A salmon? The Bangaa was very insistent on giving Laurent this fish to cook, though he didn't quite understand why. He thought back on the conversation…

~

"Here, Laurent, take this salmon. Fresh fish isn't exactly easy to get around here!"

"What for? Do you want me to give it to Gale to cook? I'm sure he'll be back soon--"

"No, you dolt. It's for you to cook."

"...Wh--"

"Stop asking questions. Gale's been working hard, I'm sure he'd appreciate coming back to a lovely home-cooked meal from his friend, as he does for you so often. Maybe he'll appreciate it in more ways than one…"

"Gemna, what do you mean by that--"

"Just go! Go and cook the damned thing. Goodness."

~

"But how do I cook it?" Laurent mutters to himself. It's not like he didn't know how to cook at all, he cooked for himself plenty of times as a Wood Warder. But Laurent knew how much Gale enjoyed cooking, and it was always delicious, so he never wanted to take it from him.

Gemna is right, though. Eir has been working hard, recently… making a meal for him will be a nice gesture.

Laurent looks around the kitchen in the apartment, taking stock of what they had. After a moment, his eyes fall on a large pot. Ah, that's it. I can make fish soup! You just throw everything into a pot of water and boil it for a while. I'm sure he'll love it…

After hastily chopping up some vegetables and putting them into a boiling pot of water, he turns his attention back to the fish. I'm used to grilling these over an open fire… but I'm sure the water will cook it. Just need to… Laurent grabs the cleaver and brings it down on the fish's head, separating it from the body.

"Oh!" Laurent surprised himself with how easily it was to chop off the head, and he inspected the cleaver again. "Eir keeps these much sharper than I expected…" Good to know if I need to use it to defend myself.

He returns his attention to the salmon. Eir told me one time that putting the bones in helps flavor the soup. So I shouldn't need to do anything else with the fish, right? The more bones the more flavor. Laurent thinks about it a moment more, then picks up the salmon and puts the whole fish into the pot.

"What else?" The Viera looks around the kitchen again, picking up various herbs. "I'm pretty sure he always uses this… and that…" 

He puts them into the pot, then places the lid. There, now to just let it cook until Eir gets home. 

~

Gale sighs as he walks up the stairs to the apartment. I am exhausted… I think I'll get something to eat at the bar tonight. I haven't gotten a chance to get more ingredients.

When he gets to the top of the stairs, however, he stops. Something was wrong. Gale wasn't sure what, but the sudden feeling of dread put him on edge. Is there someone in the apartment? I need to be careful…

Gale takes a second to listen at the door, but doesn't hear anything particularly out of the ordinary. With another sigh, he slowly opens the door. "I'm home--"

It was then that he was hit with an incredibly strong fishy smell. Seven hells, what IS that?! The odor was so strong he wasn't sure the apartment would ever smell normal again. The air also had a slight haze to it, as if something burned and it began to air out.

Gale looks around, and after a moment he spots a pot on the stove, bubbling ominously. Oh Gods, it can't be…

"Eir, you're home!" Laurent walks over to Gale and pulls on his arm. "I made dinner. Sit down, I'll serve you."

Oh no… Gale has tasted Laurent's "cooking" before. He had managed to convince Laurent to simply not cook--and it helped that Gale enjoyed making and experimenting with meals. As the strange fishy got stronger as he ventured further into the apartment, Gale wondered what compelled him to cook today.

But he seems so excited… I can't just tell him his food is inedible. Who knows, maybe he learned how to cook since last time… "What did you make, Reyna?"

"Gemna gave me a salmon, so I made fish soup." Laurent walks over to the bubbling pot, and curses under his breath as oddly colored liquid bubbles over when he removes the lid.

This… will be a long evening…

~

Gemna is polishing a glass when she suddenly hears a loud noise in the back. "Whoever is back there, you used the wrong door."

Her remark is met with silence, and she sighs and grabs a knife. "I swear if this is a burglar…"

When Gemna opens the back door, however, she only finds Gale, who smiles at her. "Hey, Gemna. How's your evening going?"

Gemna gales at the Viera. Something was wrong--Gale was acting weird and looked a bit pale, but was talking as though nothing was abnormal.

"Laurent made dinner. There were a lot of leftovers, so I recommended we share with you!"

Gale smirks at Gemna, then unceremoniously plops a bowl onto the table and slides it towards her.

Gemna frowns as she looks down at the food. The stew looked more like sludge, the pale gray color of the broth looking entirely unappetizing. Random vegetables and pieces of (assumedly) fish sat suspended in the broth, and Gemna could catch glimpses of fish scales reflecting off the light. She couldn't tell if the fish was raw or burnt--probably both.

In short, it looked like an affront to what anyone considered food.

"It's fish soup," Gale explains plainly. "Careful about the bones."

"...The bones?"

Laurent walks in then with a smile. "Yes, the bones add flavor to the broth. Gale said that once!"

"I certainly did…" Gale mirrors the smile, but it appears to be far less genuine. "And I couldn't have all of this… food to myself, you have to try it as well, Gemna. There is certainly some flavor."

Gemna looks down at the soup. Maybe it'll be better than it looks…

~

"Why didn't you tell me I couldn't cook?!"

Laurent frowns at Gale, who is laying his head on a table. He groggily raises it to try and meet the Viera's eyes. "I didn't want to… hurt your feelings… So I cooked instead. You were just so excited…"

"You could have told me the truth!"

"Well, now you know…" Gale places his forehead on the table again. "We can't go back to the apartment for a week, it needs to be aired out. And Gemna and I… are not feeling well. I appreciate the sentiment, Laurent, but please… never cook again."

"Maybe if I try--"

"No. Don't. Please. We're all bad at something, yours just happens to be… cooking… and anything related to it." Gale waves one of his hands without lifting his head. "Leave the cooking to me. You do plenty already, "

Gale lifts his head and offers Laurent a more genuine smile. "Thank you, though, for trying."

"Oh, you're welcome…" Laurent looks away from the light-haired Viera to hide a slight blush.

"Get that water to Gemna, though, before she skewers you with that knife she had earlier."

Laurent huffs as he pours a glass of water. "I'm sure she'll do it anyway…"

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem Moments: Poison

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Family isn't always blood-related.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: mention of poison

Part of FFxivWrite 2023

------

The prompt for Day 14 is 'clear'! I had planned on this story going in a different direction, but it was one of those times where the characters decided "you know what? we're going to do something else and you're just along for the ride", LOL.

Granted, I love when stories do that, so I hope you enjoy!

"Here, Gale, take this."

Gemna hands the blue-haired Viera a small vial of clear liquid, which he holds up to his eyes with a frown. "Is this the poison?"

"Yes. Be very careful with it, though, it's highly potent." Gemna stares at him until he puts the vial down before continuing. "If you get this on your skin you can end up hurting yourself--or worse. You only need a small amount in a drink but the effects will happen relatively quickly, so make sure not to stick around after you're sure the target drank it."

"I'll be careful Gemna, promise." Gale puts the vial in a leather sack before storing it in his pocket, then looks up to Gemna with a smirk. "Have you thought about poisoning us?"

"Gods, not a day goes by without me wanting to kill you boys." Gemna chuckles, but the look on Gale's face seems serious.

"Why haven't you, then?"

"Huh?" Gemna looks at Gale, shocked that he would even ask.

"I appreciate that you haven't, as I like living, but… why haven't you?" Gale's face is thoughtful as he continues. "You have had ample opportunity to do so."

Gemna continues to stare at Gale for what feels like an eternity, before heaving a heavy sigh. "Gale… you are an idiot."

"I--what? Why?" Gale turns a confused gaze at Gemna, which she chuckles at.

"I was joking. I'd expect Laurent to take me seriously but not you. Goodness." The Bangaa sits on a bar stool, and gestures to the stool next to her for Gale to sit down. When he does, she smiles at him for a moment while the Viera squirms slightly in the silence. Eventually, Gemna continues.

"Don't get me wrong, you boys drive me insane. It's never seen anyone worse with the customers than Laurent, and he'll burn the place down if he so much as looks at an oven the wrong way. And you… You're obnoxious. And paranoid. And a smartarse. And--"

"Alright, Gemna, I get it."

Gemna huffs at the interruption, but her smile doesn't fade. "It doesn't matter if you both get on my nerves, you're family. I'd never want to hurt you two, even if you deserve a smack upside the head from time to time."

Gale seems lost in thought. "A family?"

"Oh please, didn't you have a family in the jungle?"

"No. Not like the families in Rabanastre, at least. The village raised the children, and we didn't know who our parents were."

Gemna frowns. "That's… strange. But that doesn't matter, because I'm your family now!" The Bangaa leans over to pat Gale on the head, which prompts him to cross his arms and fold his ears down in annoyance. "I want you two to stay safe, and be happy. So remember what I said about the poison, okay?"

"I will, Gemna." Gale pats the pocket the vial is in lightly, and grins at Gemna. "Thank you. For being my family. Our family."

"Sure, sure." Gemna waves off Gale, looking slightly embarrassed. "So when are you two going to grow the family?"

"What are you talking about, Gemna?"

The bartender smirks at him. "When will there be a little Viera hellion running around the bar? I bet he'd have your eyes."

"What… I--That--" Gale's face turns a deep red. "That's not… possible--physically…and I'd hope they'd have Laurent's eyes--wait--"

Gemna gives Gale a pointed look. "Oh, is that so?"

"I-I need to go now. Job and all that." The Viera quickly heads to the exit while Gemna hides a snicker. "I'll let you know when it's done…" Gales walks out before the Bangaa can respond.

"It's too much fun to tease them." She reaches over the bar and grabs some ingredients to fix herself a drink. "I think they'd make for great parents, though…"

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem Moments: Bark

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Sometimes, the scenarios we make up in our head are much scarier than reality.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

Part of FFxivWrite 2023

------

I've been keeping an eye on the FFxivWrite prompts for this year--I won't be writing every day, but if a prompt inspires me, I figure 'why not?'.

And so this one did! This is day two's prompt, which is 'bark'.

"Gale, look out!"

The blue-haired Viera quickly spins around at the sound of his partner's voice. As he does, Laurent's arm shoots out, putting himself between Gale and the perceived threat.

Was someone following us!? I hadn't noticed at all… As emerald eyes scanned the alley, however, he couldn't find what was causing Laurent to be on guard.

The other Viera, however, does not calm down. "Stay back, it's dangerous."

Gale looks around for a moment longer before speaking. "Laurent, what are you talking about, I don't see anything--"

They both jump slightly as Gale is interrupted by a loud bark. He looks down, past Laurent's shoulder, and notices a dog staring at them. It was only then that he notices the fuchsia-eyed Viera glaring down at the animal. Gods, is it really…

"Laurent."

He doesn't respond, seemingly determined to scare the dog away with just his glare.

"My love, are you really… Are you talking about the dog?"

Laurent's eyes flick towards Gale, incredulous at the question. "Of course I'm talking about the dog. Look at it, it's feral!"

Gale looks down at the dog, calmly staring up at them with its tail wagging. It takes all of his willpower to hold back a chuckle--it was clear his partner was afraid of the dog, as docile as it was. He had no idea that Laurent's fear of animals was quite this severe, however.

He lightly touches Laurent's shoulder, dropping his voice to just above a whisper. "...Reyna, my love, it's okay. The dog's just hungry." 

"Yes, that's why we need to be careful, it might try to tear our arm off or--"

Gale quietly shushes the other Viera, rubbing his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. "This isn't a beast from the jungle. I bet it's friendly." Gale ducks under Laurent's arm and, before he could react, kneels down near the dog. "See, you're friendly, aren't you?"

The dog shifts its gaze to Gale, and looks at his smiling face for a bit before sitting on its haunches, wagging its tail all the harder. Gale chuckles before digging around the bag he was carrying. "Such a good boy! I bet you'll like this." 

He pulls out a piece of dried meat, and the dog excitedly barks at Gale, which causes Laurent to shrink back. "Gale, please, it's going to--"

"There you are." He places the meat on the ground, and the dog wastes no time in enjoying its meal. With another chuckle, Gale gives the dog a pat on its head and stands up, wiping the dust off his knees. "Now you go home after this, pup, it's clear you have someone that looks after you."

Gale turns his smile to Laurent, who appears to be equal parts shocked and confused. "See? Nothing to worry about."

Laurent takes another long look at the dog, before relaxing--if only a little bit. "If you say so, Gale…"

"I do." With that, he grabs Laurent's hand, gently turning him away from the dog. "Shall we go now?"

"Sure…" Laurent lets Gale lead him out of the alley, and after a few more steps, Gale stops and gives the other Viera a light kiss on the cheek. "O-oh, why--"

"Thank you for protecting me, my love."

"Oh…" Laurent blushes shyly, his anxiety forgotten. "Of course, I'll always protect you…"

Gale beams at him. "My hero. Let's go home."

[dalmascan-requiem]

Dalmascan Requiem Moments: Exhaustion

(Vierapril Day 10 - Illness)

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It's not often that the two Viera gets sick, so Gale falls ill, Laurent is at a loss on what to do.

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Read on AO3 or keep reading after the jump

content warnings: none

Check out the main Vierapril 2023 post here

------

For Day 10 of Vierapril, I'm using the free day to tackle the other Day 9 prompt, 'illness'. I'd been thinking about this one for a while--about how one of the boys would react if the other got sick or didn't feel well. Ironically, once I actually began writing it, it went in a different direction than how I thought it would.

This fic takes place before Confessions, which might explain some of the awkwardness between the two near the end lol.

Laurent silently slips into the apartment. "I'm back," he announces, unsure if anyone else is around. If Gale was there, he didn't want to startle the Viera--surprising an assassin was never good for one's health.

While he didn't get a response, fuchsia eyes quickly fell on Gale's sleeping figure on the sofa. Ah, he's back. The light-haired Rava had been away for a while on a job, so Laurent was happy to see him home safe and sound.

It takes a moment for Laurent to realize something's amiss as he looks back over to Gale. He's such a light sleeper, how has he not woken up by now? Laurent was used to Gale falling asleep wherever he pleased, but he was also used to him waking up at the slightest noise. Something is wrong…

"Eir?" Laurent carefully moves closer to the sofa and quickly sees why Gale hasn't stirred. The Viera's face is flushed, and his breathing was slightly labored. Is… he sick? Laurent furrows his brow as he bends down to feel Gale's forehead. I've never seen him sick before… but he certainly has a fever…

The dark-haired Viera stands up and places his hands on his hips. "What am I supposed to do," he mumbles to no one in particular. He knew he couldn't just leave Gale on the sofa, but Laurent knew little and less about caring for someone that was ill--the Viera of the village they grew up in rarely got sick, and a Wood Warder getting sick in the wilderness was likely a death sentence anyway.

After a moment, Laurent lets out a small sigh. "Might as well get you to bed," he says as he moves to pick Gale up. Gale still doesn't stir, and Laurent frowns at the Viera in his arms. He must be really sick… this isn't good at all.

Laurent carefully carries Gale to his room, silently cursing not having the foresight to open the door before picking him up. After softly placing the Rava on the bed, he quickly leaves the bedroom to pace anxiously around the living room.

Whatever illness that was afflicting Gale was more than a simple cold, and Laurent had no idea what to make of it. To him, the light-haired Viera was always the perfect picture of health--even when it had been who knows how long since they last got some sleep or a good meal.

To see Gale like this was troubling. What if he was deathly sick, and needed medical attention? What if he has an infection of some sort? What if he ingested some poison? It's not as if he could ask Gale what he's had to eat recently--

Laurent stops pacing and sighs again, pinching the bridge of his nose. Panicking is getting me nowhere. I need to go get some help.

~

The dark-haired Rava glares at a pot on the stove. Why does Gemna have to be like this… Laurent had gone to the Bangaa to help figure out what was wrong with Gale--but after hurriedly explaining what was wrong, she simply laughed at him.

"What, have you never gotten sick before? The boy's just exhausted, Laurent. He's been out on a difficult job for three weeks. Now go home and take care of him!" Laurent had tried to argue that this had to be something worse than being a bit tired, but Gemna simply (and forcefully) pushed him out the door, mentioning she'd bring something by later.

Gemna did come by later, though all she brought was a pot of broth and some fruit. "Just don't burn the place down when you heat up the broth," she said with a chuckle, and the elderly Bangaa was gone as quickly as she came, ignoring Laurent's protests.

"I'm not that bad at cooking," Laurent mumbled angrily at the broth, which responded with a low gurgle as bubbles began to float to the top. Should be warm enough. Probably. He carefully ladled some of the broth into a bowl, then made his way back to Gale's room, only to find the other Viera up and about.

"Eir, you're awake--what are you doing?" Laurent frowns at Gale, who appeared to be shakily changing into another outfit. Whatever it was, it wasn't something that implied he was going to stay home and recover.

"Ah, Reyna… you really should knock before coming in." Gale flashes Laurent a wide smile, but his raspy voice suggests he is not feeling better. "A moment earlier and I would have been completely n--" The light-haired Rava cuts himself off with a frown when he notices Laurent holding a bowl. "What is that? Did… did you cook something?"

"No… Gemna made you soup. Because you're sick." Laurent sets the bowl down, then crosses his arms. "Go back to bed."

"I'm fine, I need to--"

"Lay back down."

"Look, I have--"

"Lay down."

"Fine." Gale wavers a bit on his feet before sitting down on the bed. "Perhaps I could use a bit more rest."

Why is he pushing himself so hard? The two were not lacking for work or money--there was always a need for those that can discreetly handle problems in the royal city. A day or two off wouldn't put them out on the street. Granted, there was never a day off when protecting the jungle.

"Eir, you didn't even wake up when I brought you to your room. I was worried." Laurent sighs and sits on the foot of the bed. "You can't work if you can't even stand up."

"I… I know you're right." Gale rubs his head before looking up at Laurent, emerald eyes meeting his gaze. "I suppose I am too used to pushing through it. I will rest. Thank you, Reyna."

Gale flashes a genuine smile before suddenly looking away. "You said you brought me to the room, though? How…?"

"How else? I carried you in, you weren't awake."

"Oh! I-I see." Gale runs his hand through his hair, pointedly looking anywhere but at Laurent. "I apologize for the trouble."

Laurent waves the apology away. "It's no trouble, provided you rest now." As if to make his point, the Viera picks up the bowl of broth and hands it to Gale. "Eat the soup Gemna brought and get back to sleep. I don't need another scare like earlier today."

"You didn't put anything else in the broth, did you? No secret spices to 'make it better'?"

"No. Why? Would you like me to--"

"No no, it's fine! I'm sure Gemna… already added it." Gale quickly takes the bowl from Laurent. "Thank you, again. For everything."

"It is no trouble, Eir." The dark-haired Rava gets up from the bed but stops short of leaving the room. "...I will leave the door to my room open tonight. If you need anything, call out, I'll get it--and no, I will not hear about how it is 'unnecessary' or anything of the like." Laurent turns back to Gale, who was about to object. "Necessary or not, allow me to help."

Gale is silent for a moment, before letting out an exasperated sigh. "Very well, I will. I doubt I will need anything, but I appreciate it nonetheless."

"Good." Laurent gives a small smile, then heads out of the room. "Rest well."

~

Gale looks down at the bowl of soup. It looks normal enough… I don't think he put anything 'extra' in it. He takes a careful sip as he hears some noise from the kitchen. Turning his ears a bit towards the door, Gale could hear Laurent quietly cursing about broth getting everywhere.

He must have left the heat on… At least he didn't burn the place down. Gale chuckles as he settles back into the bed. I suppose I'll need to rest.

Gale was no stranger to pushing himself a bit too much when working, but never had it gotten to this point. He barely remembers getting back home, and woke up several hours later in his bed. Even now it's hard for him to stay standing too long without feeling dizzy and shaky--it was clear he took things too far this time.

Laying down and staring at the ceiling, Gale sighs. If I try to leave anytime soon Reyna will probably lock me in the apartment. Still, he was thankful for the other Rava's help--rough as it was, it was clear Laurent was doing his best to care for him.

I feel awful for making him worry, though. He hadn't expected such a reaction from the dark-haired Viera, though it oddly felt nice that he was concerned in the first place. I'll have to take it easy for a bit, so he has no reason for concern. It's not so bad to take a day or two off, is it?