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"Having a new girlfriend there?", Libertus teased what earned him a slap against his arm from Crowe.
"No, guys. That's Yn. She's ... She arrived here in Insomnia yesterday.", Yamachang introduced the small woman next to his side, "Please, be nice to her."
Yn felt nervous as the group of friends stared at her. Five pairs of eyes were looking expectant as if she had to tell a big story about herself. Just one pair of eyes was different. The eyes of the guy with the name Nyx made her speechless. It was their intensity that caught her attention. The handsomeness of the man kept her in his unspoken spell.
"Where do you come from, Yn?", Crowe asked softly as she saw how nervous the young woman seemed to be in front of a bunch of strangers.
Yn smiled softly, thankful to get distracted, "Galahd. I'm from Galahd."
***
It didn't need much time til Yn was a big part of the group of friends. Pelna, Libertus, Crowe and Luche included her immediately. Making her feel welcomed. Nyx did the same with the difference that, within a very short time, Yn was far more for him than just a friend. She was home.
Whenever he saw her, Nyx' heart made a little jump because, in a bitter-sweet, beautiful way, she reminded him of what he had lost. It was as if she had taken everything from the island to store it inside of her. Piece by piece, she released parts of it. Her voice was like the wind in the trees. Her laugh was like the singing of the birds. Her smile was as bright as the endless sky. And her eyes were sparkling like the open sea on a fresh summer day.
Every day, after his shift with the Glaives, Nyx was eager to go to Yamachang's with the hope to meet Yn again. Just to be in her presence gave him comfort because her character was so light and easy to have around. And that was everything Nyx allowed to himself: to have her around him with the others because he was far away from being the right man for her.
Every evening, when the Glaives came, Yn looked out for Nyx and smiled shyly at him when he passed her. But one evening was different. The others were already there but Nyx was nowhere to be seen.
"Nyx comes a bit later.", Crowe said low, stepping next to Yn as she saw her searching glance, "He... He works at the gate watch at the moment."
"Oh, why?", Yn asked, frowning why he did this unusual job. Every refugee learnt quickly how the gate watch was thinking of outsiders.
"Well... as punishment. During our last fight at the wall, he ignored our Captain's orders. If he wouldn't have done that, some of us would be dead now.", Crowe explained before she went back to Pelna to ask him something.
Yn dwelled on what Crowe had told her and as Nyx showed up finally, her heart made a jump as her eyes landed on the hero.
"Nyx the gatekeeper. Tell me, how's the new post treat you.", Pelna asked even if he knew the answer already.
"The gate watch are real sweethearts. You would love it.", Nyx said sarcastically and brought Yn back to reality from her day dreaming.
"Yeah, everyone knows that they hate us outsiders.", Pelna said and thanked Yn with a smile as she gave him a new drink.
Yn turned over to Nyx and looked at him. She smiled beautifully as their eyes met. And he smiled back softly like always, taking the drink from her she offered him. But he did nothing more. It wouldn't be fair to drag her into his chaotic life. No matter how much he wanted someone next to him. To have someone just for himself. Who would care for him more than just as a friend. Someone who would be there for him. But he couldn't demand from Yn to live a life of pain and uncertainty just so he wouldn't be lonely. Even when she represented everything he was searching for.
***
Then, one evening, a few days later, Yn waited til the night that Nyx would show up at Yamachang's but he stayed away. Pelna told her not to worry too much. Nyx was still working at the gate and maybe he had a rough day. But Yn worried because she liked the greyish haired Glaive so much. So, she asked Yamachang for a bunch of meat skewers, wrapped them and as the friends were gone, she made her way through the underground to reach his place.
It wasn't far away but with each step, Yn noticed how her hands became sweaty and she became nervous. It was the first time to visit him and as she knocked, Yn already considered what she was doing but then, there was no turning back as she heard footsteps behind the door.
As Nyx opened the door, he expected Libertus or Crowe. But the last he expected were the bright eyes and wide smile he loved to see so much, "Yn? What are you doing here?", Nyx asked surprised.
Yn, who was always a bit nervous around Nyx, gnawed on her lower lip, "Y-you weren't at Yamachang's tonight.", she said low, casting her eyes to the ground.
Nyx scratched the back of his neck. To stay away had been a hard decision but he noticed how he started to fall for the young woman, so he wanted to keep some distance from her, "Yeah... I... I wasn't in the best mood. I just wanted to be alone.", he lied and felt bad as he saw that she believed him.
Yn's eyes grew a bit bigger as she realized that she had done the wrong thing, "Oh... Oh... Uhm... I- I'm ... Okay, then I will leave you alone again. Sorry for bothering you.", she stammered and noticed her cheeks turning pink. Understanding that the idea had been stupid after all, Yn turned over to leave.
Nyx knew he should let her go, it would be the easiest way, but as he saw her sad, disappointed expression, he couldn't watch her walk away like this, "No! Please, wait. You're not bothering me. I was just surprised... I have just don't expect you here.", he said with a soft smile as he saw her stopping.
Yn looked down at the small package in her hand, "Yeah, about that... I brought you some food. I thought you might be hungry.", she said and looked carefully at him.
Nyx was taken aback about the fact that she cared so much about him, "That's so nice from you.", he said and watched amazed how a beautiful smile spread on her lips and before Nyx could stop himself he spoke again, bubbling out the question he had in mind, "You... Do you wanna come in?"
Yn was surprised about his invitation but she agreed. Happily, she watched how Nyx seemed to devour the food in one go as if he hadn't eaten in years. Nyx had placed Yn into his comfortable arm chair, the only neat place he could find for her before he sat on his bed to eat.
While letting him eat, Yn looked through the room. Her eyes landed on the pictures of his family and felt sadness for his loss. She knew how he felt, being in the same position as him as she had come to Insomnia. She also had lost her family, her home and was alone. Yn was thankful for Yamachang and that he had introduced her to his friends. But as she watched Nyx, the feeling of being more than just friends with him increased even more.
So, as it became late and she was about to leave Nyx' place to go home, Yn took all her courage to try her luck, "Nyx, I... I- I like you.", she said softly, stopping at the door where Nyx wanted to say goodnight.
"I like you, too.", Nyx said casually, not thinking about what she really meant.
Once again, Yn became nervous as she looked up at him, "N-no, I-I- I mean I like you.", she said more meaningfully.
"But, I.... Oh...", Nyx breathed as he realized. She had said what he wanted to hear and yet, it was the last thing he should hear from her considering the fact that he didn't see himself as worthy of her.
"Yeah...", Yn said low and looked away from his intense glance.
There were the things Nyx wanted to say desperately and then, there were the things he should say, "Yn...", he sighed, annoyed more about himself, "You shouldn't like me that way.", he said low.
Yn looked up, "Why not?", she asked impulsively before she realized what Nyx meant, "Oh, I see... You don't feel the same. I... Uhm... Okay.", she said crestfallen and just wanted to leave, getting away from Nyx and his handsome face.
As Nyx saw her like this, his heart dropped and even if it would be the best to let her go, he couldn't do it like this, "Yn, wait. It's not because of you.", he said softly.
"Sure. What a cliché.", Yn said low, not looking at him.
Nyx took a breath, "No, just wait. Yn, you're wonderful, beautiful, lovely... you're gorgeous but ... I'm a Glaive. This life is nothing you would deserve. Not after everything you went through. Nothing would be certain with me. You would fear for my life whenever I wear this uniform. You would have sleepless nights because you don't know if I'm still alive or not during a battle. We would fight often because you ask me to quit the job and I would say no. I would feel bad for making you sad because I couldn't change it. And even if no one else sees it, I'm broken. I have nightmares and flashbacks at random times. Why would you want to deal with a guy like me?"
"Because I think you're worth it.", Yn said, seeing that her words hit the man in front of her.
Insecurity was written in Nyx' eyes but there was also hope. Hope that she really meant what she just said.
Yn stepped forward by the sight of his emotion-filled eyes, "I can't heal your wounds and I can't stop your nightmares but I can comfort you. I can be there for you when you need someone to cling to. I could be there for you when you need someone to bring you back from your flashbacks. Of course, I would worry for you when you're out there because I want you to come back into my arms. I would try to get you away from the Glaives even if I know I would never be successful. And that's okay. That's how you are. But I wouldn't stop trying. I wouldn't stop fighting. You know why I would do all this? Because I don't see any flaws in you. For me, you're the nicest, most handsome and most perfect guy I have ever seen. Your eyes are the bluest and wildest, matching the deepest ocean. When you talk, I could listen to you for hours. Your lips are the ones I'm craving for to taste, at least just once. I would admire every single scar on your body because they're the signs of your endless strength, devotion and determination. You might not see yourself as perfect. But you don't have to. Because I see you like this.", she stopped her speech with a pounding heart. While still looking into his eyes, she gnawed on her lower lip before she added, "Let me love you, Nyx. You don't have to be alone. Let me in your life and I promise I will try to make it easier for you.", she whispered and waited for his reaction. She had said everything on her mind. Everything she always thought when she saw him. Now, it was his turn to react.
A single tear slipped from Nyx' eyes and rolled along his cheek. Yn raised her hand slowly to brush it away with her thumb. Just this small touch kindled a roaring fire inside of him. Still overwhelmed that someone thought about him like this, he stepped forward, cupping her face softly in fear she could break under his hands before he connected their lips for a desperate kiss.
Yn's fingers found their way into his shirt to get hold as Nyx' reaction took her by surprise. The hero kissed her with such a force that her breath hitched in her throat but she didn't even care. The only thing she wanted was to have the man even closer. Slowly, she stroked from his chest down to his hips and over them to his back to slip her hands underneath the fabric of his shirt to feel his skin.
As Nyx felt Yn's nails digging softly into his skin, he backed away for some air. Panting, he leant his forehead against hers with closed eyes while his heart was racing in his chest, "Can you stay? Forever?", he whispered shakily.
"Actually, my plan was to bring you food so you wouldn't be starving but yeah, I think I can manage to stay forever as well.", she whispered and was happy to hear a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"I was already starving and then you came along, making me happy just with your being.", Nyx whispered, looking her into the eyes, "And now, you turn into the reason why I always want to come back home. Obviously, now, I have to be a bit more cautious.", he whispered before he embraced her, burying his nose into the crook of Yn's neck to inhale her scent and to bring her even closer.
Bursting with joy, Yn flung her arms around the hero's chest, snuggling against him with the promise to never let him go.