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The sunrise in Ishgard was something truly beautiful, E'mrys decided with a small huff of something not quite laughter.
It was funny, how comfortable he felt here now when compared to just two years ago. Back then the stone spires and snow had looked miserable and foreboding, everything seeming hostile in a way no other place in Eorzea had managed to feel. But now... Now it was home. And wasn't that the funniest thought? He shook his head, leaning more heaving on the Last Vigil's balustrade. but Home. Something he hadn't had in well over a decade but had found in a city so vastly different than the plains of his childhood. A gust of cold wind ruffled his hair, making him fold his ears down for a brief moment before he adjusted. What would his mother think? His brothers? Imagining their reactions brought a fond, sad smile to his lips as he watched the first rays of the sun begin to break over the mountains on the horizon. Well, maybe they would be happy for him. He liked to think that they would be. And they likely would ask if he was happy as well. Which was... Hm. That was something to think about.
Was he happy now?
It was hard to say if he was or not. But he was certainly content. And that was what truly mattered, wasn't it?
To feel at peace for even a moment, his thoughts carried away by the breeze as quickly as they came to his mind. It was peaceful. Particularly with it being far too early for most who lived in the Pillars to be awake. Only a few people passed him by, all either busy servants or patrolling Temple Knights. Funny, how the people of Ishgard seemed to sleep through the parts of the day and night here that were the most beautiful.
But at the same time E'mrys was grateful that they did.
As soon as he had been freed from his forced bedrest he had taken to wandering in the late hours of the night, watching dawn break over the city he couldn't help but love now before retiring for a brief rest before breakfast. For the first time in a long, long while he felt like he could be at ease without his armor, at least for a time. He even left his sword in his room on his nightly strolls, only carrying a dagger tucked into his boot as a precaution should anything go wrong. Not that that seemed likely, lately. It was a strange feeling, to have so many strangers know his name and face. But that was the case now. It seemed like he couldn't go anywhere in Ishgard without someone recognizing him and saying hello. To put it bluntly, it was overwhelming. In a good way but still overwhelming for him. Not even Revenant's Toll had been so full of people who knew him on sight. Which was...partially why he had taken to wandering when most were either asleep or too drunk to remember his face when he passed them by. Only Gibrillont and the occasional Temple Knight really saw him then. And they were blessedly understanding of his need for solitude. Understanding and probably also used to odd habits. Not that he was complaining. All he needed was a nod of greeting and a warmed cup of spiced wine every now and then. Conversations were difficult when he spent most of the day talking with someone of some note.
Or Alphinaud and Tataru but they were different, not exhausting to spend time with. Same with Lord Edmondt, who had easily adjusted to the "esteemed" Warrior of Light slipping into his study to just read a book in the comfortable silence found there.
And if those books had lately tended to be silly romance novels borrowed from Tataru in hopes of helping settle his mind? Well, thankfully Edmondt never seemed inclined to judge him.
Really, the man was a blessing. Always a steadying, fatherly presence.
Ah, but he'd allowed himself to think too much and had almost missed the sound of a familiar set of boots walking up behind him. Their owner stopped a short distance back, just close enough that it ran the risk of being considered "almost scandalous" for Ishgardian nobility. The thought made a stronger smile come to his face as he turned to look over his shoulder.
That was all the invitation needed, somehow they had worked out this silent language between the two of them over the course of the past month. Starting of course with the now-Lord Speaker's visits to his bedside during his recovery. Strange, how naturally they had fallen into this method of communication. Aymeric smiled in response to the gesture, inclining his head ever so slightly, and approached again only to stop once they were shoulder to...er, not really shoulder to shoulder but close enough. Close enough that E'mrys could feel the warmth radiating from the Elezen's body through both of their coats. It was...nice. Genuinely nice. Not only because Aymeric being taller blocked some of the wind.
It was enough to simply stand next to him.
Still, that didn't stop him from leaning closer or from brushing the tips of their fingers together. Even the little jolt that touch sent through his body, like touching a lightning sprite, was welcome and familiar.
For a long time they stood there in silence, watching the sky lighten to a blend of pink and gold. The sky promising a rare clear day over the Holy See. Almost as if even the weather was telling him it would be fine.
E'mrys sighed, closing his eyes briefly. It was now or never. He didn't think he'd ever have this kind of courage again.
"I..." he started, seeing Aymeric shift out of the corner of his eye at his voice, "I believe I may be in love with you, Ser Aymeric."
Oh, gods, he'd said it. He'd actually said it. And yet, much to his surprise, he didn't feel all that embarrassed. Or even afraid. It was as if the rising sun was burning away all his fears just for this moment. The quiet, sharp inhale from beside him was expected. E'mrys knew such a confession would be surprising for anyone to hear. Anyone that wasn't... Well, that was in the past now, wasn't it? He couldn't keep living his life trapped in the past even if the pain in his heart was still present, a dull ache he doubted would ever truly fade. But like an old wound he would eventually grow used to the ache.
And the first step to that was no longer running from his own feelings.
"I...see." Aymeric breathed out, his voice quiet and yet so loud to E'mrys' ears. The Lord Speaker fell silent again, neither walking away in disgust or doing anything to show if this was a good response. And then, suddenly, he moved, entwining their hands in that oh-so-familiar way he tended to when they were alone. And that sent a thrill through his body. His breath hitched at the feeling even as he struggled to keep his eyes focused ahead. "It seems you've once again done what I cannot manage, my friend."
And that... What was that supposed to mean?
E'mrys frowned, finally tearing his eyes from the sunrise to look at Aymeric. Aymeric who was smiling down at him so radiantly he forgot all about the dawn breaking over the mountains. The way his crystal-blue eyes seemed to sparkle and the faint hint of a flush on his cheeks was enough to steal the breath from his lungs. Really, it took a monumental effort to unglue his tongue from where it seemed frozen to the roof of his mouth. Was it possible? It felt almost too much to hope but as the rays of the sun touched Aymeric's hair and face and lit them both in golden light he felt his voice return.
"O-Oh? And, ah, how have I managed to do that?" He couldn't help teasing the older man as he asked, lightly thumping his tail against his calf. Thank the heavens it seemed today was a rare day off for him. Somehow he doubted he'd have this kind of courage if he had to face Aymeric when he was armored and in Lord Commander mode. Facing him when he was just Aymeric de Borel and E'mrys was just E'mrys and not the Warrior of Light made this not exactly easy but easier by far. The heat from their joined hands felt so intense he didn't even notice the cold Coerthan winds anymore. It was like everything around the two of them had ceased to be. Nothing else mattered but this one quiet moment, Aymeric smiling down at him so gently. So, dare he hope, lovingly was enough to keep his attention forever.
It almost didn't feel real.
"You," Aymeric exhaled slowly, not quite masking the way it shuddered, "have managed to say what I've wished to say to you for the past few months so easily. While I have hesitated and overthought what I might say." Oh. Oh. E'mrys swallowed, feeling the heat creep up to his cheeks, lighting them aflame with what was sure to be an impressive blush. This was far better than any of his dreams could ever hope to be. Slowly, almost as if he was afraid, Aymeric stepped closer until there was no space between them at all now. It made him have to crane his head back almost uncomfortably to keep their eyes locked but it was worth it. All worth it to feel so close to this man. To actually be so close that he could see the slightest tremor in his lips that gave away the Elezen's own nerves. Somehow it was comforting to know he wasn't the only one. "But I have always admired that about you. That you manage to always be so brave is a quality of yours that I find...terribly attractive, if I must be honest." His voice lowered, the light in his eyes only seeming to grow as it did so.
It was hard to hear over the sound of his heart pounding in his ears. A distant roaring that seemed to drown out everything but Aymeric's voice.
Gods, he wanted to kiss him.
The realization broke the stupor E'mrys found himself in and he reached up with his free hand, gently tugging Aymeric down by the collar of his coat. It was still an awkward position for them both, but hopefully they would have time later to worry about figuring out the best way to kiss. For now, he stood on his toes and pressed his lips to the other's in as gentle a way he could manage. It wasn't nearly enough, of course. The soft sound Aymeric made nearly caused him to throw caution to the wind and properly kiss him right here in public. But common sense won out in the end and the Miqo'te pulled back with a smile.
"I would like to hear it from you," he whispered against the Elezen's mouth, enjoying perhaps far too much the way Aymeric's eyes lowered at his words.
Really, it was unfair how beautiful he managed to be at all times. How anything he did managed to look so graceful and elegant.
"E'mrys Tia," and oh the things hearing his name said in that lovely voice when it sounded just slightly breathless did to him, "I am in love with you. Will you have me?"
Ah, Ishgardian customs. E'mrys chuckled, bumping Aymeric's nose gently with his own. Such a strange thing to ask when responding positively to a confession of love. But it was charming, in a way. Almost cute, even.
"As if there was ever any need to ask, you silly man." The smile that earned him would be burned in his memories forever. Lit in golden light from the rising sun, Aymeric looked like a painting of a god of eld. Or a hero. It was almost enough to steal his voice away again, and certainly enough for him to once again capture the Elezen's mouth in another, longer kiss, propriety be damned. Let whoever might see them talk, he had a beautiful Lord Speaker to kiss senseless. Actually, it would probably give Lord Edmondt a headache, huh? With a small sigh he managed to pull away, though the tiny whine Aymeric made in response almost managed to make him throw away his resolve entirely. Panting softly, E'mrys pressed his face against his chest with a small snort. "I will have you. Until the breaking of the world, if that is what you wish of me, Aymeric. I well and truly love you."
The sun broke over the mountains far in the east, bathing Ishgard in the light of a new day, and it felt like a promise from the Twelve themselves.
Was he happy? E'mrys finally had an answer to that question.
He was definitely happy.