Chapter Text
Hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks into months and here they were two years later, still in Norvrandt, finally joined by some of the others…but it was primarily Scions and not FM. Alrescha showing up had eased his butterfly’s heart some but Thancred could see how the weight from her recovery process and well.
What Urianger had seen during his journey unto the rift. The Eight Umbral Calamity that would have claimed all their lives far, far too early. It brought into stark realization how much he had taken time for granted. If it hadn’t been for the Call, Thancred would have proposed two years ago, atop the Ala Mhigan palace, surrounded by flowers, under a sea of stars. Maybe a few months after that and they would have been married. There had been a plan. But what plan survives contact with real life?
Instead, the past two years had been tough. Ignia’s state from arrival had left her weak and constantly exhausted. Thancred had realized that she didn’t just need someone to watch her back but who could protect her, regardless of how much she protested. They both knew she needed the cover. Putting the ways of a gunbreaker into practice (and to think that his love knew her own tricks with a gunblade) had taken time so while Ignia pushed to bring herself back to a base state, Thancred trained with a new weapon and style.
And that was just the first year, the second had been spent helping the Crystarium guards fight off sin eaters more regularly and taking hunts to acquaint themselves with the bodies their souls had formed while they were here. That had been when they had seriously started looking into Eulmore and everything that related to it and Minfilia. Now they had a plan, just a few weeks from execution. It had been a few years since Eulmore had taken the latest in the line of Minfilias and they kept her under such tight lock and key that they barely had enough information about her location and treatment.
Two long years that they had stayed by each other’s side. They didn’t know how long it would take until the plan to take down the Lightwardens could be implemented. And Thancred…didn’t want to wait anymore. His hand withdrew into his inner coat pocket, confirming that the ring box was indeed in there as he walked up to the steps towards their meeting place.
“Thancred?”
The now-gunbreaker looked up, smiling at his lover, enjoying seeing her dressed casually (though, had she stolen one of his chokers?). For however quickly gossip spread in the Crystarium, he hoped the whisperings hadn’t reached her ears and that she thought today was a normal break before they headed out to Khlousia.
Not to mention, he had gotten Alrescha and Urianger to help him commission and pick up the ring. He’d never live it down once the story got out but it would be worth it to surprise her. Leaving the ring in its pocket, he took her hand in his and pulled it up to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles, “You look stunning today, love.”
How prettily she flushed, glowing with pride as she always did when her style was complimented, as his love thanked him with a grin and laugh. Ignia used the hand she was holding to pull him close and tiptoed to kiss him on the lips, smiling, “And you’re dressed to impressed,” She tugged on the coat, looking it over with approval. His girlfriend had really taken to the idea of being able to modify his entire wardrobe upon their arrival in the First. Her knight in shining leather, she had called him and in the bright whites, he looked the part.
The miqo’te pulled back, looping her arm through his and leaning against him, “You asked me to leave today to you! So I will. Lead the way, dear!”
Thancred chuckled, choosing to slip his hand out and wrap his arm around her waist and pull her into his side. The light bore on them from above but all he could feel was the warmth of her at his side. He led her down the stairs, smiling as familiar faces from the Crystalline Mean called out and teasingly wolf whistled at Ignia. They’d lived out of the Crystarium for two years now and while not completely home (it was missing certain faces), they had become familiar faces.
And well, he knew some of them suspected just what he had been planning for today, no matter how discrete he had tried to be while preparing. Thancred began to lead Ignia to the Sweetseive, picnic basket being carefully kept out of her reach, him knowing how she kept eyeing it and probably smelt the food.
As they passed by the Aetheryte, they stopped, seeing the Guard begin to move out in force and calls about a Sin Eater attack. The pair looked at each other and the gunbreaker could feel a resigned smile come across his face. What plan survives contact with real life?
Soon enough, they were off, Ignia with scythe in hand, and truly, recently, the gunblade had finally felt right in his hands. Thankful was he that Ignia had weaved protection enchantments into every garment she made for him, so Thancred didn’t have to change to do his job. He could feel the bond thrum with power as Ignia dashed forward, using her scythe to cut through the two closest Sin Eaters with a single sweep.
The next breath, Thancred slid to cover her back, deflecting a claw before bending for his lover to roll off his back and cut into the claw’s owner. Another breath and a cartridge spent, and the Sin Eater was dead. He felt aether press against him for a moment and, realized a set of new cartridges had been shoved into his coat pocket. This wasn’t his normal coat, after all, he had just grabbed his bandolier and gunblade and headed out.
Keeping in mind his rather limited supply, Thancred fought with Ignia, back-to-back, side by side, happy to see her with a return to form. Even if the scythe was a new addition, she swapped between that, her chakrams and her fists, almost seamlessly, turning her fight into a dance as she always did. It was a joy to serve as her partner, knowing that he only served as an accent to her dance of death.
A pause to breathe and warm aether flowed into them, healing cuts and bruises. A glance and he was glad to see that the astrolabe Ignia had labored over was working well for Urianger. The warmth of the stars at their back, Thancred knew that he and Ignia were in safe hands. Both of them knowing that it had been a while since the Elezen had taken to the front lines, they formed up by him, fighting together, covering as their healer adjusted to the chaos of the fight. The creation of a safe area for the injured began to form around their trio, Thancred noticing that Alrescha and Y’shtola had joined the fight.
Soon enough, the small horde of Sin Eaters was eliminated and all that was left was healing the wounded. Thancred didn’t even need to look to know that once again Ignia had class changed, this time using her new Astrologian soul stone that the Exarch had managed to procure recently. He knew that she had finally been getting over her issues with healing magic thanks to Alrescha and Urianger but he would have rather she rested after a fight like that, where she’d been mid-battle recharging his cartridges on top of her fighting.
“I wilt watch over Ignia. Make certain that she doth not drain her aether too much.”
Thancred nodded at Urianger, thanking him and going to the ones who needed less medical assistance first, knowing that he could at least help with bandaging and serve as an extra hand where needed. Still, as they went about, Thancred couldn’t help watching Ignia out of the corner of his eye, worrying about her and cursing another missed opportunity.
“My apologies. Today was your and Ignia’s rest day,” Thancred startled realizing that Lyna stood next to him, “All your plans…”
“Can be remade,” Thancred cut off the viis, realizing from how she acted that everyone but Ignia knew what he was planning, “There will be more opportunities-“
He cut himself off, seeing Urianger catch Ignia as she stumbled, her face pale. He shot a look at Lyna who had also seen that, “Go, take her back to the Pendants for rest. And take tomorrow as well.”
With a muttered thanks, he passed over the supplies he had been carrying and headed to Ignia, who was quietly arguing with Urianger. The hyur snickered at the pleading look on his friend’s face when his approach was noticed.
“Thancred, please…persuade the lady to rest.”
“I’m fine, Uri, I just tripped over a rock. We need to make sure all these people get to the Crystarium and the Spagyrics if needed.”
“Anyone who needs Chessamile and more hands-on healing is already there,” Thancred already knew, he had helped with transportation. He heard her yelp, as he swept her into his arms, refusing to give her the chance to stumble again, “There are more experienced healers here, butterfly.”
“Please rest, dearest Ignia. Thou has't already done everything thee can, allow those of us who arrived anon to taketh over,” Thancred watched as Ignia melted in his arms, resistance disappearing as Urianger’s practiced hand ran along the outside of her ear.
“You two teaming up on me is unfair…”
“Too bad, and certainly not what you were saying the other- Ow!” He was cut off mid-tease as Ignia’s tail thumped against his stomach and both the elezen and miqo’te turned bright red.
“Maybe you three should stop talking about your nightly activities and let Urianger go so he can help?”
“A-AL!” Ignia hid her face in Thancred’s shoulder, red to the tips of her ears.
“Shoo. Shoo.” The viera, who was also helping out with the healing, gestured at the pair of lovers, willing them with their eyes to get out of there and back to the Crystarium, “Don’t think I didn’t see you stumble. And you’re at risk of aether exhaustion. So. Shoo.”
Not willing to risk Alrescha’s anger, Thancred carried his girlfriend all the way back to their room in the Pendants, trying to keep it as smooth as possible, noticing how she was finally dozing off after the fighting as the adrenaline died down. He nodded at the manager who simply smiled and nodded, keeping quiet when he realized the dozing young woman. It was honestly a familiar sight, since Ignia usually had worn herself down to a similar state during her recovery period.
Carrying her back to their room like this so often meant that the hyur was a master of silently opening the door and getting in without moving Ignia too much. Regardless, her eyes started to flutter open once they were inside. Even like this, she was a light sleeper.
“Lemme change…” She pushed away from his chest, mumbling, as Thancred set her down, familiar with their routine. She wouldn’t argue or protest as he helped her, unlacing ribbons and unbuttoning the leather clasps that kept her Reaper’s armor intact. As she slipped out of armor and slipped into one of his button ups, he pulled her over to their bed and into his lap. Soon enough, he went to work braiding her hair after removing the ribbon,
As the former rogue ran his hair through said hair, he was thanked with the low rumbles of Ignia’s soft purring as she curled into his chest, “’M sorry…you had a whole plan for today too.”
“It’s fine,” Thancred pressed a kiss to the top of Ignia’s head, tying off the sleep braid for her hair. It was her determination to do what’s right that first drew him to her and he’d never change that, “Nothing time sensitive, I promise, love.”
“Love you…”
“Love you, Ignia.”
The miqo’te yawned, her ears flicking, brushing against her lover’s chin. She giggled hearing Thancred’s snort, knowing that it always tickled him.
“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?”
Her eyes shot open, suddenly realizing what her retribution would be. But she was already trapped in her boyfriend’s arms, giving him easy access to start tickling her sides, Ignia couldn’t hold back the laughter as her tail thumped against his thigh in protest. When he finally deemed her punishment over, he stopped the tickling but still held her tight to him,
Catching her breath, Ignia tried to look up, her ears flicking as she realized that Thancred was keeping her tucked under his chin, “…Thancred?”
“How are you feeling…?”
“Fine. Just needed some sleep,” She let her forehead fall against his chest, “…Sorry for worrying you.”
“Say that to Urianger and Alrescha,” He pressed another kiss to the top of her head, loosening his hug, “Now, let’s get some food in you to restore more of your aether.”
Ignia whined, missing the heat as the gunbreaker pulled away, and she curled up into the blankets more, not exactly willing to get up so quickly. She curled up, closing her eyes, letting the smell of heated up food keep her awake. Familiar, almost silent footsteps moved around their apartment and she forced her eyes open and sat up when they approached the room again.
“You don’t have to get u-“
Thancred shut up at the glare directed his way as the glarer held out her hands, recognizing the smell, “Gimme.”
“What’s the magic word?”
“Give. Me. The. Moussaka.”
“Butterfly…”
She pouted, holding out her hands, “…please.”
The mini casserole was placed in her hands and she started tearing up after she took her first bite, “…This is Mama’s recipe.”
“Yeah,” He sat down, wrapping an arm around her waist, “Maia gave it to me a while ago…just never got the chance to get the spices until recently.”
“I missed this,” Ignia ate the Moussaka, looking nostalgic. It’d had been two years since she had it after all, “…I miss them.” And the rest of Fox Magna and the Scions and M’Zhet and-
Her train of thought was cut off by another spoonful of the moussaka entered her mouth, “One day, butterfly, one day.” He leaned in to kiss the top of her head as he returned the spoon to the bowl, “I realized you were getting lost in your head.”
“Thank you…we’ll see everyone again one day,” Softly, she repeated the idea to herself as she continued to pick at the casserole and leaned into his side, enjoying the warmth.
“We will,” Thancred leaned down to kiss her cheek, “I know you’re not going to want a wedding without the others there.”
“W-wedding?” Shock made her lose grip on the bowl, which her dearest seemed to have been expecting since he caught it and set it to the side table, “What do you mean?”
Thancred sighed for a moment, before turning adoring eyes on Ignia, holding both of her hands in his and pulling them up to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. She could tell he was gathering his thoughts with the motion but she smiled, watching him.
“Apologies, but it seems as though the third try is the charm. Twice already have I had plans for this go awry.” He kept her hands close to his lips as he began to speak, in their room, blackout curtains drawn, dimming their room from the blinding light outside, “Once before we were Called to the First…and once more just earlier.”
“…oh.”
His laugh was dry but she could tell he was laughing at her face as so many things began to slot into place, “Good to know that efforts to keep things a surprise worked.”
Ignia let his laughter fall quiet, watching Thancred as he looked back up at her, his eyes and smile full of adoration and love, “So allow me to ask you this, Ignia Estalia, love of my life, bonded of my soul, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Rhalgar as my witness, a thousand times yes!” The miqo’te could feel the tears return to her eyes, as she pushed him forward and the blankets flopped up from cushioning their fall into them. She wrapped her arms around his neck, laying kisses on his face, The gunbreaker’s arm wrapped around her waist again as his other hand wiped away the tears.
“You have made me the happiest man in all the worlds, Ignia…but now for this,” A pair of pink and blue eyes watched Thancred in confusion as he reached out for his coat from earlier and pulled out a small box, a ring box, “I imagine the original is back on the Source but as you have said before, the quality of the craftsmen from the Mean is also amazing.”
With a single hand, he opened the box, presenting an intertwined white and rose gold ring, with a brilliant blue topaz set in the middle, Diamond leaves were set on the side with little diamonds glittering on the sliver band, “I’m no goldsmith like you but I hope it’s up to your exacting eye.”
“It’s perfect,” She pulled back from the hyur, sitting in his lap as they both sat back up. She watched as Thancred was so gentle in his movement as he removed the ring from its box, took her left hand and slid it on. It was a perfect fit on Ignia’s small hand and she couldn’t help continuing to stare at it.
“Based on how much you’re staring…I can tell.” She finally pulled her eyes away from it to stare, instead, into amused amber eyes. Ignia pouted, staring up at her fiancé (oh the reality of it all was finally setting in), “Not a bad thing! I’m glad you love the ring.”
“And I love you,” The dancer wrapped her arms around her lover’s neck again and kissed him, knocking them both back into the blanket pile. The kiss was breathtaking and passionate and it was only then they pulled apart for air, panting that Ignia rested her forehead against his chest, ear pressed up against it, hearing his heart beat as fast as hers, “I love you, Thancred.”
“I love you, Ignia.” She felt her world flip, as her back hit the blankets and mattress and Thancred slowly began to pepper kisses all over her face, “Thank you for saying yes.”
“Always,” She giggled at how ticklish some of the kisses were, but she took his right hand in her left, and intertwined their fingers, smiling at him, “It’s merely another bond for us to share. Another oath to make because we’ll always be at each other’s sides.”
“Always.”