#sort of spoilers I guess? but just for tuliyollal but you know that was in the trailer lol

[akirakirxaa]

[Takes place in An Echo Calling Me, the verse where Hyth and Hades return after Ultima Thule. Written as a prompt fill for @sylaurin, who gave me a few prompts but this one was for 'sharing a secret'.]

Akira stared out at the deep blue of the ocean, the sun painting the sky a soft orange as the sun set. Despite the joy that seemed to permeate Tuliyollal, she didn’t feel it. It was as if it were all at arm’s length, like she was some kind of beast in a cage looking out at it — separate in all ways. And no matter how welcome she was made to feel, it was almost as if she were…afraid to let her guard down.

So lost was she in her thoughts that she didn’t notice someone approaching.

“There you are!” Akira started in surprise before turning to see Hythlodaeus approaching. He’d changed into an outfit reminiscent of the locals, most of it dyed in familiar black, though the collar and accents were dyed in his favored lavender. Akira managed a tired smile in greeting before turning back to the ocean.

“Enjoying yourself?” she questioned as he settled at her back, reaching around either side to support himself on the rope railings. He dropped a quick peck on the top of her head.

“Always.” Oh, how she wished she could be as carefree as he was. “But what’s bothering you?” Akira frowned out at the water; she didn’t want to burden him, but she also knew if she didn’t tell him he would just continue to prod at her until she told him.

Or worse, go get Hades. And Akira swore he must have mind reading powers because she couldn’t seem to hide anything from him.

“I… I suppose I just feel like…” She struggled to put words to it, this knotting in her chest and this distance she felt. “I don’t know how to be just…a person.”

“But you are a person!” he lightly teased, and she gently elbowed him.

“I meant more…” Akira gave a heavy sigh, brow furrowed as she searched for the words. “All I’ve been since I lost my memories at Carteneau is ‘The Warrior of Light’. I don’t know how to just be…normal.” They stood together in silence, and when a cool breeze blew by, she was grateful for his warmth.

“Well, maybe you can use this as your chance to figure that out,” Hythlodaeus suggested. “Now that the world isn’t going to end if you take a breather, you can find out what you like to do when you’re not laying waste to your enemies.” She chuckled.

“I suppose so. As long as there’s no Allagan ruins behind a rock or something,” Akira gave a wry smirk.

“We can certainly hope not,” he replied, tucking his head against the top of hers and pulling her against him. Akira relaxed into the embrace with a sigh.

Yes, maybe she could use some normalcy for once.