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It was late afternoon and Charmi was enjoying a calm day for once, sitting in the Rising Stones reading a book.
“Charmi?” she felt a hand on her shoulder and put her book down.
She looked up to her redheaded miqo’te friend standing next to her “G’raha! What is it?” turning towards him in her chair.
His hand found the back of his neck, he seemed slightly nervous “There is somewhere i would like to go, if you would accompany me?”.
“Yes of course!” she stood up from her chair, book forgotten on the table “Where to? Do i need to change?”.
“Oh no that won’t be necessary, it's not far.” he spoke sounding almost surprised she was so eager to go with him.
“Alright then, lead the way.” She adjusted some of her clothing then stood ready waiting for him to move.
He gave her a nod and after a few hesitant seconds started walking towards the exit of the Rising Stones.
Silently they walked through Mor Dhona, through the east exit towards Saint Coinach’s Find, the Crystal Tower on the horizon.
Charmi looked to G’raha as they walked, he seemed tense or nervous, she had an idea of where they might be going.
After stopping to say hellos to Rammbroes and a few more old friends, they continued forward, towards the Crystal Gate.
G’raha stopped in front of the gate taking a breath.
“You haven’t been back since you woke up, right?” Charmi asked softly.
He turned to her with a surprised look on his face which quickly turned to embarrassment, of course she would realise “Yes.. I've been wanting to but can never bring myself to walk past these doors.” He said as he looked up at the huge doors.
It’s been weeks since that day, the day Charmi opened the tower doors using his blood in the vessel, since she found him lying on a makeshift bed and woke him.
He had been dizzy and groggy after his long sleep, he vaguely remembered Charmi sitting over him as he woke and her carrying him outside.
Since then he’s only seen the tower from afar in Mor Dhona, never getting closer than Saint Coinach’s Find, there was something in him that stopped him from going any further.
Maybe he was afraid of what he would find, or more, what he wouldn’t find once he once again stood at the foot of that tower.
No town build around it, no people walking around talking and laughing.
He closed his eyes and pictured the people of the Crystarium for a moment, he then opened his eyes again and turned to Charmi.
She gave him a gentle smile, her eyes soft, he just looked at her there, patiently waiting for him to choose what to do.
He felt his heart tighten seeing her, she didn’t pressure him to go, she let him take his time.
But knowing she’s there feels enough to give him the strength he needs and so he placed his hands on the gate and pushed it open and walked forward.
While walking about, memories started coming back to him from long ago, for him atleast, the time they first entered the tower, it all still looked that same as back then although there were a few new things, no doubt from their continued investigation in the tower.
They walked around for a while, he asked Charmi what some things were and what they were doing with it, and she just answered and otherwise continued to follow in silence.
Soon they got to the foot of the tower and it’s huge doors, G’raha couldn’t help but note where things would be in the First.
If you turn here you’d get to the library, around this corner would be shops, he kept thinking.
But there was nothing there, no shops or library, nobody greeting him as he walked through the Crystarium, no Lyna making her rounds, telling him to rest yet again.
His hands balled into fists and he almost marched towards the tower doors, reaching out to place his hand on it.
But after a moment, he retracted his hand, letting it sit back by his side and instead walking to the side of the tower and placing his hand on the crystal.
He heard Charmi had walked up next to him, he could feel her eyes on him, there was probably a worried look in them.
He closed his eyes, trying to feel something, anything from the tower.
After a moment he removed his hand and took a step back “Tis strange, it feels.. not quite different, it is like my tower in the First yet it feels like a stranger, i do not have words to describe the feeling”.
“Most of the time it’s the deepest feelings that you can’t put into words” Charmi finally spoke.
He turned to look at her and instead of the worried look he expected, he only saw her kind eyes looking back at him, a soft blush on her cheeks.
She took a step forward and faced him “You miss them right? The people of the Crystarium.”
He just nodded, there was something about her right now he couldn’t quite figure out, she was holding something back. “You know, Lyna is probably looking at the tower right now, just like you are, smiling with you.”
He gave her a smile at the thought, remembering what she had told him Lyna had said, word for word.
He watched as Charmi put her hand in her pocket and pulled it out in a fist, she held it between them and opened it.
In her hand was a crystal shard, about the size of her palm, the exact same kind of crystal as the Crystal Tower.
He looked from her hand to her face, a shy smile formed there as if asking him not to be mad with her.
“I might have taken a little souvenir with me from the First..” She said in a quiet voice.
“You broke a piece off of the Crystal Tower?!” He didn’t sound mad or angry, just shocked.
“Yes?” Her voice was still quiet and she started fidgeting with the shard in her hand.
He let out a chuckle because of course she did, that’s something she would do but he couldn’t help but wonder.. “Why?”
Hearing his laugh she felt relief and let out a breath, she looked down at the shard and spoke “To remember, everything that happened and the people we grew close with, that’s something i want to carry with me.”
She looked at his face to see his reaction but he just looked at the shard with a knowing smile, that’s when she knew for sure what she should do.
She took his hand and brought it up in between them, placing the shard in it “You should have it, that way they will always be with you.” She closed his fingers around the shard and let go.
He looked at her with wide eyes, back to the shard in his hand and then back to her, there was a smile on her face yet something small and sad in her eyes, he could spot it easily.
He returned her smile then held up the shard and closed his eyes, focusing on it.
The next few seconds she just looked at him with curious eyes, wondering what he was doing until *crack* and her eyes went wide.
He opened his eyes again and looked at her with what you could almost call a smirk after seeing the surprise on her face.
He opened his fist and in the palm of his hand where once was 1 shard now laid 2 shards, the original having cracked through the middle.
Her eyes still wide and her mouth now open in disbelief, he really just broke it in two.
“Turn around” He told her, she had no reason not to, so she did, but she couldn’t help but wonder about whatever he might be up to.
She heard some ruffling behind her and after a few moments “Close your eyes” alright now he was acting really suspicious, she was about to question until another chuckle sounded from behind her “Go on, don't you trust me?”.
“You know i do” She muttered, almost insulted by the question, and she closed her eyes.
Her other senses kicked in, her ears wiggling at any slight movement, she felt him move closer and arm went over her, now one arm on each side of her.
Next thing she felt was something small and hard hit her chest, next feeling something around her next and then his hand at the back of her neck fidgeting with something.
She had an idea but.. “Alright you can open them now” she did so right away and looked down, and she was right.
There in the middle on her chest was one of the two shards, tightly secured in a piece of rope made into a necklace.
She turned around to look at him, finding a shy smile on his face “Now they are with us both.” And he pointed to his chest where a necklace with the other shard rested, placing his hand over it and his heart.
She felt her eyes fill with tears, she couldn’t help herself and she pulled him into a hug, an embrace that he, after a small moment of surprise, gladly returned.
He felt his cheeks heat up at the embrace and gathered some courage “It's true that i miss them, terribly even. But you are with me, so i'm not alone”.
Her heart started racing at his words and the blush on her cheeks burned her face, she wondered if he could feel her heartbeat speed up, like she could feel his.
Quickly realising she hadn’t responded yet, she just held him tighter and thought about what to say until a loud rumble was heard from the sky.
They both looked up, realising it had just started to rain.
Letting go of each other, they looked at the other for a moment, blush clear on both their faces.
They were pulled from their staring contest by another rumble, one much louder this time and soon followed by a crash of lightning in the distance.
“We should head back” Charmi suggested and G’raha quickly nodded in agreement.
They ran through the rain that was now pouring down and they were getting soaked to the bone.
As they exited the Crystal Gate she suddenly felt a hand take hers and pull “Over there!” She didn’t resist the pull and saw G’raha was leading her towards shelter.
If you could even call it that, it was just an overhanging crystal with some ruined structure.
G’raha put his back against the structure to make more space for her and he pulled her closer, his arm now gently around her waist.
Now pushed against him she could feel his body heat, even through their wet clothing.
She looked up at him and found him already looking at her, he was so close to her, she found herself staring again, into those red piercing eyes, as he did the same into her dark blue ones, but she could have sworn they flicked down once or twice.
She swallowed, her mouth feeling dry suddenly, why was her stomach doing flips right now.
The moment seemed to last forever until he finally spoke and she felt like her heart would burst “May i.. kiss you?”
At first she thought she didn’t hear him right but the look on his face told her everything she needed to know, blush covering his cheeks and nose, eyes not quite meeting hers.
A smile formed on her lips as she quickly nodded and carefully started leaning towards him, not really sure what to do.
He leaned toward her aswell, gently placing a hand on the side of her face.
Everything else seemed to fade away as they closed their eyes until another loud lightning strike shook them, making them jump.
Small laughs came from both of them as they looked back to each other, Charmi placed her hand over his heart, she felt it race as fast as hers and she moved closer, closing her eyes, waiting.
It didn’t take long till she felt his hand back on the side of her face and then, very gently, very softly, she felt his lips on hers.
All too soon they were gone and she opened her eyes and met his, what she saw she did not expect, soft loving eyes and lips with a satisfied smile.
But as if linked on the same wavelength they both leaned in again and their lips met for another kiss, one less gentle, less soft, a kiss of two people who waited too long.
Charmi pulled away for some air but it could only be a short breath as G’raha’s lips chased after hers for more.
His arm around her waist pulled her even closer to him, the hand on her cheek moving to hold part of her neck.
She didn’t expect him to be this bold, but she certainly did not mind, he even got startled for a moment when he ran into her fangs for the first time.
They stayed there like that, arms around each other for who knows how long, they certainly didn’t, and before they knew it, the rain stopped.
She looked up at the sky while he couldn’t take his eyes off of her “We should head back” she mirrored her words from before and he nodded.
Hand in hand they walked back to Mor Dhona, only letting go right before entering the Rising Stones, not quite ready to be bombarded with questions when they still had many of their own.
As they were greeted upon entering. Charmi made her way to her table to grab her book and started to head back towards the exit, announcing she was heading home for the day, needing some time alone to do some much needed thinking about what just happened.
After whines and goodbyes G’raha caught her at the door “Thank you for joining me today” He smiled at her and after quickly making sure nobody was watching he kissed her cheek “Would you care for a visitor later today?” he whispered in her ear.
Blush spread over her face as she answered “Y-yeah sure” and then with a grin he left her standing there.
Charmi’s stomach was doing flips again as she made her way home, all kinds of thoughts going through her mind, nervous as all hells for her visitor.
Charmi was running around her home, cleaning anything that could be seen as messy.
She wanted her house to look nice, why? Why was she nervous? It wasn’t like the man she’s cared for for so long had just kissed her earlier that afternoon and had now asked if he could come visit! She wasn’t panicking at all!
But she was, she really was, she was so nervous she felt her heartbeat in her neck and her hands were sweaty.
She even jumped when eventually there was a knock on her door.
Checking over her outfit, fixing her hair, she felt kinda stupid but after a deep breath, she opened the door to see her expected visitor.
“G’raha, come in come in.” She stepped aside to let him pass.
He nodded his head in a slight bow as he walked past her and thanked her.
She motioned to her couch “Please have a seat.”
He again nodded his head and sat down. There was a slight awkward feeling in the air as neither of the two knew where or how to start.
“Uhm drink?” Charmi mumbled “Would you like a drink? Some tea maybe?”
He smiled at her, “That sounds lovely, yes.”
“Alright” She sighed and walked to her kitchen, she had prepared some tea leaves beforehand just in case, but now she wishes she hadn’t so she could stall longer.
But soon the tea had finished and she made her way back to G’raha, who was curiously looking around the living space until the cup was placed in front of him “Ah thank you.” This time it was her turn to nod at him.
Silence filled the room again as they both sipped at their still slightly too hot tea.
They could both tell that the other wanted to speak up but neither could make that first move, until.
“So, about the kiss..” G’raha spoke and Charmi jumped and looked at him, his eyes fixed on his cup.
“Right..” She attempted an answer, where was he going with this.
“it does not have to mean anything! It was very much an in the moment thing!” He struggled to get the words out and he let out a sigh as he finished.
Charmi felt her heart sink “Oh, okay..” She felt her eyes start to fill, don’t do it, not in front of him, she was beating herself up in her head to say something, anything! If not now, when.
“But.. i want it to mean something” She mumbled in something that was barely a whisper, she wasn’t even sure he heard her until she heard a shattering sound. She looked up and saw G’raha had dropped his cup. “S-sorry.” He stammered and started gathering pieces.
“No no it’s alright” she said a little shaken and got up to get a cloth to clean the tea.
As she was cleaning the spot he spoke “What did you say, just now?”
She stood up and walked to her kitchen, ditched the cloth in the sink and took her seat across from him again. “Don’t make me say it again…” Her eyes met his for a moment and found anticipation “It meant something to me.“
His cheeks turned bright red, he did hear her right “O-oh..”
They both looked away again, both cheeks burning. Silence was filling the room again but G’raha didn’t want it to turn awkward again, he needed to say something. That’s when his eyes spotted some very familiar pink potted flowers. “Nice, flowers”.
“Thank you, they were given to me by someone important.” She answered, trying her best to hint at him, and he understood it.
He blushed as he thought back to that day in the Crystarium, he had been so nervous to gift them to her. He had long since realised his feelings in the 100 years he waited to finally see her again and when his identity became known, he had decided to test the waters for their relationship or friendship. He was both excited and nervous to see her reaction, she had been both surprised aswell as happy, and maybe a bit of confusion on her face. He remembered the way his heart raced when he saw the happy smile on her face as she thanked him.
G’raha was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed her get up from her seat and instead sit down next to him. She took his hands in hers and stared at their hands, avoiding his eyes.
“You’re important to me” she started “You always have been, you were my best friend, it just took me too long to realise just how much you mean to me.” He just stared at her and let her continue “When i saw the tower again in the First, when i asked you the Exarch about.. well you, and you said you didn’t find anyone in the tower, the sting i felt in my heart, it felt like i lost you all over again!”
“C-charmi..” he stammered, flustered at her confessions but she continued her ramble of pouring her heart out.
“Then at the top of mt. Gulg, i saw you again, i thought i was going mad, well i was, all i saw was bright white light and then your face, i thought i had to be hallucinating for sure, but i reached for you anyway, and called your name, and then i heard your voice, and i knew it was you, of course it was you i didn’t know how i hadn’t realised before, i think in my heart i knew but i just didn’t want to admit that i might be falling for the Exa..”. G’raha grabbed her face and kissed her, stopping her rambling. He pulled away after, for her, a way too short kiss.
She chased after him for more but he placed a finger on her lips to stop her. “You don't have to say any more, but now it is my turn” his cheeks bright red, he looked down at their joined hands.
“I certainly took my time aswell, i had 100 years to realise just how much you mean to me.”
“I have made alot of questionable choices including hiding my identity from you but i want you to know how my heart broke every time i had to keep myself hidden from you.”
“More than anything i wanted to tell you the truth, to be able to be your best friend again.”
“You have most likely realised that you were the one i spoke of before mt. Gulg, the one i can ill afford to lose.”
She nodded at his words with a smile, of course she did, he wasn’t very good at hiding that.
He chuckled “Of course..” His eyes moved up, almost daring to look at her face but they landed on her new crystal necklace.
“My every road has always led to you” He placed his hand over the necklace. “And i wish to stay by your side always.”
“I know this sounds like a selfish wish but i cannot help myself wanting..”
“I want to be with you.. always”
"I cherish you above everything else in my life"
“I..”
He finally looked into her eyes, searching. He found nothing but fondness and.. love, and he found his courage to say.
“I love you, Charmi, now, and i always will.”
Tears started to form in her eyes and he felt sudden panic at the sight for a moment until she pulled him into an embrace.
“I love you too Raha.”
His heart raced at the sound of his name and he held her close.
After a moment they pulled away, looking at each other smiling.
And quickly their lips met again, as they would many more times that night.