Chapter Text
Hikari and Temenos talk. A lot.
They talk about what little they haven’t told each other about their past. About what dreams and nightmares they have on particularly strange nights. Most importantly to Temenos, they talk about their families. How much they miss them (or don’t, in the case of Hikari’s wicked brother), and how they try every day to honor the legacy left behind for them to take over.
The last topic is important to Temenos for a simple reason: he never knew his birth parents. Over three decades have passed since he was born into this world, yet he still has no clue who his father and mother had been. Perhaps he shouldn’t even care about them, considering that they hated him enough to abandon him for the church to take care of. In fact, this was the very belief that Temenos held to cope with his lack of true parents by blood.
It was only after one of these talks with Hikari that he started to think less about his abandonment and more on the circumstances behind it. As much as Temenos believed that his parents left him because they genuinely had no care for him, the possibility that they dropped him off at the pontiff’s doorstep for non-selfish reasons has always been there. He simply never saw it through his blind judgment for them. Temenos never will forgive his unknown parents for ditching him on that fateful day, but he can at least try to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Especially with the Moonshade Order’s meddling into innocent people’s business.
The Moonshade Order is no longer around, of course. Theoretically, if Temenos truly does want to find his parents, then the time is nigh. However, the more that he thinks about the idea, the less enthusiastic he feels about the prospect of meeting his parents for the first time in decades. What would they even have to say to him? Why, he can picture their reunion now: Oh, son! We’re so sorry for leaving you at the church without any visits! Please forgive us!
“You two will be forgiven over my dead body,” Temenos murmurs to himself.
“Hm?” Hikari, having been in the middle of talking about something, tilts his head curiously, “What was that, Temenos?”
“Nothing,” Temenos croons in a saccharine-sweet voice, “Continue speaking, my dear. I like hearing your voice.”
In spite of his very obvious suspicions, Hikari continues talking, if only so that Temenos will relax. Something ails at his weary mind - it’s clear and he doesn’t have to be his husband to tell that Temenos is troubled by one thing or another. What that thing may be remains to be seen, but Hikari isn’t going to let him suffer for very long. Thus, he obeys Temenos’ order. No matter how much that obviously fake smile pangs at his heart.
Temenos actually does take a moment to relax when Hikari starts to talk again. It’s difficult not to relax from the warm, comforting voice of his husband. There are little things that he enjoys more than listening to Hikari ramble about something that no one understands except himself. And Temenos, naturally; it would be rather worrying if he couldn’t understand what his lover was talking about, would it not?
Then again, even if there was a language barrier between him and Hikari (isn’t it convenient that Flamechurch and Ku, two wildly different places in completely contrasting lands, share the same tongue?), he would still enjoy hearing him speak. Once again, it’s Hikari’s voice that is comforting, not the words themselves. Part of Temenos ponders on if he should buy one of those gramophones that Partitio helped perfect. He could record Hikari’s soft, melodious singing and play it to help him sleep on days where his husband was out…
…actually, that sounds pretty creepy. Never mind.
Plus, Rai Mei would probably have his head for trying to do such a thing. Temenos can’t particularly say that he likes her, if he must be completely honest. The memory of Hikari falling down that bridge in Stormhail will never go away. No matter how much time has passed, Temenos can’t help but constantly remind himself that Hikari almost died. Just like that, in the span of a nanosecond, the love of his life - even if he didn’t consider him so at the time - could have been gone.
For that reason, Temenos cannot help but feel an understandable apprehension for the stalwart leader of Clan Mei. Yes, he understands the circumstances behind her attempted murder of poor Hikari. And yes, it’s difficult to blame her for choosing her people over a friend that she had grown distant to nonetheless (and one that killed her brother eight years in the past at the time). Still, the fact that Rai Mei was so easily forgiven doesn’t sit right with Temenos, even years after the incident.
“You’re thinking about Rai Mei, aren’t you?”
Hikari very clearly addressing him snaps Temenos out of his trance. The way that he could so easily guess who he was thinking of brings a blush to Temenos’ face. Clearly, his husband knows him too well; though, again, it would be worrying if he didn’t, considering how long they’ve been married for. An entire year of traveling combined with that does wonders for reading Temenos’ emotions, it seems.
“...how did you know?” Temenos asks with a blush.
“I’m your husband,” Hikari chuckles, “I saw how your face scrunched up. That only happens when you’re thinking about someone you dislike.”
“Oh dear,” Temenos fakes a sigh, “Hm, you know me too well, I suppose. Yes, I was thinking of Rai Mei,” his teeth gnash together, “Congratulations on the correct guess.”
Hikari’s response is as calm and dignified as always: “You don’t have to like her, Temenos. I’m not going to force you to get along with everyone.”
“Good,” Temenos says plainly.
Temenos rests his head back on his comfy pillow. Perhaps it’s best that he thinks about something else. Someone that isn’t Rai Mei, preferably - a topic that will be sure to cheer both of them up. Unfortunately, while Temenos Mistral is many things, an optimist is certainly not one of them. Hikari was always the more positive, gleeful one of the two. And before him was Roi, who Temenos still doubts he’ll ever find alive.
Assuming that the Dark Hunter didn’t just kill him, that is.
Before Temenos knows it, he starts to tremble, intrusive thoughts of Roi and Arcanette coming into his mind. Hikari, ever the dutiful husband, immediately notices when Temenos starts to shake, even if he does his best to hide it. Temenos immediately leans into the embrace that Hikari gives him, not bothering to keep up appearances when it’s obvious that he feels a great deal of sorrow for everything in his life.
Poor, tortured Temenos leans into that hug like he’ll die if he doesn’t do so. How could he not, really? The arms of his husband are so warm, despite his rather small size compared to what one would imagine for a prince. It’s impossible for Temenos to stop himself from sinking into Hikari’s warm, steady grip. Under his breath, he hums lightly; a lullaby from his past, one that he hasn’t recited in quite some time.
Hikari opens his mouth to comment on the cryptic song. At the last moment, he shuts his mouth, knowing that it’s probably for the best if he doesn’t interrupt something that Temenos clearly finds important. With that thought in mind, Hikari stays silent as Temenos hums to himself to drive the bad thoughts away. It’s a rather pretty melody. Plus, it’s unlike any other song that Hikari has heard before.
Once again, it takes a great deal of restraint for Hikari to keep himself silent. As much as he wants to praise his husband for his pretty singing, he knows better than to interrupt the moment. Thus, Hikari stays completely silent, only hugging Temenos tighter when his voice starts to slip up on certain notes. His reward: receiving more of Temenos’ pretty singing.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end sooner or later. Temenos’ melody draws to a close, just as his eyes start to close from exhaustion. When had he gotten so tired all of a sudden? How long had he been speaking with Hikari for prior to this moment? Temenos would usually be on top of these details, regardless of how useful they actually are. Now, however, he can’t even discern which direction is left and which is right.
“...I want to sleep,” Temenos states bluntly, “Would you help me do so, Hikari?”
“Of course,” Hikari smiles gently, “Rest your head down, alright?”
Temenos obeys that order without hesitation. His head slumps deeper into the pillow that he has spent many nights drooling on. For some reason, it feels even more comfy than it normally would. Almost like the mere presence of Hikari makes it all the more fluffy and warm. The thought makes Temenos chuckle lightly. Something that doesn’t go unnoticed by Hikari.
“What are you laughing at?” Hikari asks, giggling a bit himself.
“Nothing,” Temenos hums lightly, “Sing me my lullaby, my light.”
“You’re so demanding, Temenos!”
From the mouth of anyone else, that would sound like an insult. Hikari is the only person in the whole world that could make those words sound affectionate, rather than annoyed and peeved. Temenos’ smile grows wider from that detail alone. Whatever did he do to deserve the best husband in all of Solistia? Never will a day pass that Temenos doesn’t ask this question - it’s one that he has pondered on since the very first moment that they confessed to each other.
When Hikari actually starts to hum to him, Temenos practically melts into the bed, his head slumping deeper into his pillow. The lullaby is even more calming than his own. Hikari can sing a lot better than Roi could in his childhood for sure. Once again, the thought makes Temenos laugh at the least appropriate moment for it. Fortunately, Hikari doesn’t seem to mind at all, only smiling from his husband’s joyous laughter. It’s not long at all before Temenos feels his eyes squeezing shut.
The sensation of Hikari absentmindedly stroking his hair makes Temenos’ small little smile curl up wider. He nestles into the warm blankets, feeling more relaxed than he ever has in his entire life. Despite the seemingly endless amount of suffering that he has gone through, despite the gods never answering his pleas for sanity, and despite how many people he has indirectly killed, Temenos still feels happy. Not just with his life, but with himself.
With that thought in mind, he drifts off into a peaceful slumber. Hikari’s touch lulls him into a deep, comfortable sleep. Temenos doesn’t know what will await him when he enters the realm of his dreams, but he does know that he’ll face the nightmares with a confident smile if they dare to try and hurt him. Even if the demons inside of Temenos try their hardest to get to him, he’ll be well-prepared to face them with a smile.
Meanwhile, in the waking world, the last thing that Hikari does before settling down to sleep himself is kiss Temenos’ forehead.
“Everything is going to be okay.”
His voice is so steady, calm, and assuring that Temenos believes him.