Work Text:
“Still a workaholic I see” Namaari didn’t even turn around at the sound of the voice knowing full well who it was. She finished signing another document for plans on an irrigation canal for the new expansion.
“And still entering through the window rather than a door like a normal person I see” she replies with a smirk.
“And having to deal with your assistant asking for an appointment? Nah I find this much faster” Raya says while slipping off her shoes before stepping into the room.
“I thought you were arriving tomorrow with chief Benja? You’re early” Namaari asked, looking over another document.
“Yeah well I told Ba I wanted to come a day early so we could hangout. Maybe get a sparring session in. Figured we wouldn’t have a lot of time with the whole royal business in the way”
“It’s a trade agreement between Fang and Heart, and it’s important.” Namaari says, shaking her head at Raya’s antics.
“I know, I know which is why I got here a day early as I said” Raya replied and plopped down on Namaari’s couch.
Namaari finally looks up from her work and faced the intruder that was making herself at home. Her brow creases suddenly in concern.
“Why do you look so exhausted?” She asked, putting down the document. Raya puts a hand up to her face.
“Gee thanks for the compliment” She says in a joking albeit soft tone.
“You know what I meant, Raya” Namaari counters a little more sternly. Raya sighed and combed her hair back with her fingers.
“I’m fine, I just didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. It happens.” Raya shrugs. Namaari hums but doesn’t push.
“Fine. I still need to go through these and it might take a while. You can go ahead and take a nap” Namaari said and raised a stern eyebrow when Raya opened her mouth to protest. Raya gives and nods.
“Alright, alright. I’ll take a quick nap, princess bossy” Raya said in surrender as she lays down on the couch. It didn’t take very long before her breathing evened out and she was out.
That’s when Raya found herself in a familiar scene that has been haunting her dreams. Opening her eyes, unable to move as she looked down seeing the petrification travelling slowly up her body.
“No… No! Not again!” She starts hitting the parts of her slowly turning to stone as the scene in front of her changes. Raya panicked and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the scene play out, covering her ears to stop the sounds.
“LIAR! ” she heard her own voice doubled in the wind, a hum of a blade cutting through the air.
“Please…” her own voice joined as she pleaded for the scene to stop. A shout of pain then quiet followed, but she refused to open her eyes. She knew all too well what would have greeted her if she had. She started pounding on the stone again but it was futile and she knew it. Her arms being the next to go as all she can do is stand there. A hand lifts up her head and her own emotionless voice greets her ears.
“Open your eyes, Raya, See what you have done” Raya’s breathing was becoming erratic tears were starting to fall from her eyes.
“Stop this… please” was all she could whimper out.
“...”
“Why? You did this. It’s what you’ve always wanted right?”
“I never wanted this!”
“---ya”
“You killed her, like you killed Sisu ” Raya could feel the stone up to her neck. She couldn’t face away even if she wanted to.
“I… I d-didn’t…” Raya could only stutter out.
“Ra--”
“Doesn’t it feel great? You finally have your revenge. So open your eyes” Raya could feel the hands holding unto her head trying to force her eyes open. She knew how this ended, it would always end with her opening her eyes.
“Stop...”
“--ya --- up”
“I don’t want this…”
“Da---, Ra--, --ke up”
“I didn’t…”
Raya felt exhausted she couldn’t fight it anymore, she wanted to just open her eyes so it would finally end.
“That’s it, Raya, open your eyes” The voice sounded a million miles away. She felt the weight of her sword in her hand. Yes this is how it always ended.
“....”
“I’m sorry…” Raya said in a whisper. As she could feel her arm lift up.
“--YA”
“Namaari…”
“RAYA!”
With a sharp inhale of breath Raya finally opened her eyes. However what greeted her wasn’t bringing her sword down, or seeing Namaari lifeless on the ground. It was a pair of eyes filled with concern. She blinked, feeling wetness on her cheeks, Namaari's face coming into focus.
“N-Namaari?” She said in a confused whisper. Raya sat up holding her head trying to shake the nightmare away.
“Yeah it’s me, I’m here” Namaari responded, helping her sit up. Raya looks at her. She had an expression still filled with concern and her cheek slowly starting to redden. She quickly reached out to touch it, but stopped herself.
“Oh god, Namaari… did I?” Raya said in panic. Namaari shook her head.
“Never mind that, Raya, are you okay? You were screaming and crying” Namaari asked as she held Raya’s hand but she pulled away quickly.
“It’s nothing!” She answered quickly. Too quickly and Namaari noticed.
“That’s bullshit, Raya, tell me what’s wrong?” Namaari said sternly but softly.
“It was just a nightmare, I’m fine” Raya said and looked away down at her hands. She knew she had struck Namaari. She had to get out of there.
“Is this why you didn’t sleep last night? Raya how long has this been happening? And DO NOT lie to me” Raya could only continue looking at her hands as she sighed finally answering.
“It started a few weeks ago… there would be nights where I didn’t have any but... it’s been happening almost every night recently” she said truthfully. Namaari lets out a sigh of her own.
“This has been happening for weeks? No wonder you’re exhausted. Have you talked to anyone about this? Chief Benja?” Namaari asked and Raya stood up quickly defending herself.
“You cannot tell anybody about this! I can deal with it! It’ll stop... eventually” the movement was too sudden and she started to wobble. Namaari steadied her and made her sit back down.
“We both know that’s not gonna happen anytime soon, and you’re in desperate need of rest” Namaari looks at her desk then at Raya. She seems to have made a decision and sits back down and pats her lap.
“Lay down, come on.” She offers, Raya shakes her head.
“Namaari, I’m f—“ Namaari cuts her off.
“Don’t make me make you, Dep’la, and in your condition I’ll definitely win” Raya in her groggy state calculated if she could get away fast enough without getting caught, but the look on Namaari’s face told her she'd make true on that threat. Raya sighed and laid down. Her head rested on Namaari’s lap. It was quiet and it felt awkward for Raya especially after the nightmare she just had.
“I’m sorry… I… hit you didn’t I?” Raya said in apology.
“You’ve hit me a lot harder in sparring, don’t worry I know you didn’t mean it” Namaari replies and started stroking Raya’s hair on instinct, but a welcomed one to the Princess of Heart.
“It’s just… I don’t want people knowing that I’m… weak…” Raya finally admits.
“You’re not weak, Raya, far from it. You are one of the strongest people I know. What we went through… no one leaves that without any scars.” Namaari said reassuringly.
“Did you?” Raya asks as she turns to look at the Fang Princess. Namaari nodded.
“I did. I’ve had nightmares too. Things that could have happened, but I remember that there are people out there who love me and care for me. You told me months ago to trust that the world will heal, eventually we will too. So trust me, Dep’la, I’m here.” Namaari said with a smile looking down at Raya.
“Thanks.” Raya said with a smile of her own. Namaari grabs hold of Raya’s hand sharing the warmth of her hand as a silent ‘I’m here’ as Raya closes her eyes. And for the first time in a long while meets a welcomed dreamless sleep.