Chapter Text
”You’ve finally gone mad then?” Emet-Selch stared at the Warrior of Light in front of him in bewilderment. ”You did not just ask if you could hug me.”
He couldn’t have heard correctly. At the same time, he dearly wished he had. It wasn’t really the person he’d known, just a sundered shard of them, but still he craved any contact he could get. If he focused on the colour of their soul, it would feel like no sundering had ever ruined the world, for just one moment.
”I meant what I said,” the Warrior responded. ”When was the last time you were hugged?”
”I am an ascian if you had forgotten, and you the ascian-slayer. Why would you want to hug me?” Emet-Selch continued despite the Warrior’s protests.
”You look like you could use a hug,” the Warrior of Light shrugged and smiled at Emet-Selch, taking a step towards him and spreading their arms in invitation. ”We can go back to being enemies after, if you’d like. But I’d ask you to indulge me just this once.”
After he realised that there could be no trap hidden in the Warrior’s request, Emet-Selch gave in to the longing and accepted the embrace, though still maintaining the illusion of reluctance. All the feigned resistance faded when he was encircled by a pair of arms that squeezed him gently, the Warrior’s head coming to rest on his chest. He sighed and gave in to his urge to reciprocate, lifting his hands and pressing the Warrior against himself. For a single moment they were not the servants of two opposing Gods, instead they were simply two beings who craved closeness, comforting one another.