#the screenshots are from MiqoMarch btw and I wanted to write a story about them for a while!

[avirael]

FFxivWrite 2024

Day 06 - Halcyon

The last golden rays of the sun before it vanished behind the horizon always were the most magical moments of the day in Southern Thanalan. How they painted the desert sky until the whole world seemed to only consist of warm hues of yellow and orange anymore would never get boring to A’viloh.

Today however his attention was not entirely aimed at the beautiful landscape. Impatiently he twirled a blade of desert grass between his fingers and tried to estimate how much time was left before the night would put its star-speckled veil of darkness over the land.

If the hunters didn’t return soon they would have to spent another night camping between the desert dunes unless they wanted to march through the night. But it had already been two days since their departure and they rarely remained gone for so long even with a smaller hunting party, so A’viloh had hoped to see them return to the village from his vantage point.

He had climbed one of the small hills at the edge of the oasis from which one could see quite far towards a good part of the desert. It was just outside the enclosure of the settlement but still very close to the springs and therefore very green and covered in flowers. He loved this place for its beauty and often went there when the tribe and their expectations got to much for him and he needed a moment alone.

For probably the millionth time in the last bell or two he tried to estimate how much sunlight still remained and scanned the horizon for movements with a sigh. He was so absorbed in his observations that he didn’t even notice the footsteps approaching on the dry crispy savanna grass.

“Here you are! Are you looking for something special up here?”, someone asked and for a second the Miqo’te was startled before he realised the familiarity of the voice. He turned slightly to greet the person behind him and immediately a happy smile appeared on his face.

“Laqa! What are you doing here? I didn’t see you arrive!”

“We returned from the other side of town.”, he explained and then grinned. “I can leave again if you don’t want me here.”

“Of course not!”, A’vi protested and stretched out a hand, gesturing for Laqa to sit down with him. “How was the hunt? You returned later than expected…”

The blonde Miqo’te threw a quick glance over his shoulder before sitting down in the grass beside A’viloh. “It was good. It just took longer than expected because we found traces of the lizards and did a detour just in case…“

With a mix of surprise and shock A’viloh stared at him but Laqa immediately tried to reassure him.

“Don’t worry, we didn’t actually see any of them…”

But still the red-haired Miqo’te looked like he was playing out all the possible scenarios of what could have happened in his head, so Laqa put a hand on his and added with a smile, “But next time you need to come along. So much time without being able to see you was absolutely horrible.”

This at least made A’viloh chuckle a little although he didn’t seem to like the idea. “You know I’d rather not…but I missed you too.”

Laqa shook his head and grinned.

“Don’t tell me you were waiting here for me since we left!”

“Don’t make fun of me!”, A’viloh scolded but clearly wasn’t serious. “I’ve only been here for a bell or two. I like this place, the flowers, the sunset, the sound of the springs. It’s really beautiful.”

Laqa leaned closer and whispered, “I think the most beautiful thing here is you.”

Immediately A’viloh’s face turned red. “Oh you…”

“I’m serious.”, Laqa added before A’viloh could protest and with a grin he asked, “May I get a kiss?”

Slowly the red-haired Miqo’te nodded and smiled back at his boyfriend who didn’t wait long to turn words into deeds. As he pulled back A’viloh asked, “Do you think we can stay a little longer and watch the sunset together?”

“Mhhh…”, Laqa tilted his head and glimpsed over his shoulder. “At least a little. I don’t think anyone will miss us for at least a while…”

With a contend smile A’viloh rested his head on Laqa shoulder who in return pulled him closer so the smaller Miqo’te could sit with his back rested against his chest. Lazily Laqa wrapped his arms around A’viloh’s body and pressed another kiss to the side of his head, while the sun slowly vanished behind the horizon.

“I love you, A’vi. Everyday the sun rises I pray to Azeyma and thank her that she sent you to me.”

Relaxed A’viloh cuddled even closer and glimpsed at the Miqo’te behind him.

“I love you more. And everyday the sun sets I pray it rises again the next morning and all of this wasn’t just a pleasant dream.”

So they remained for as long as they dared and in moments like this the world was perfect.