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Edansyr was struggling with cufflinks on his button up when a certain someone had knocked on his room door. He sighed and set the cufflink aside on his vanity, heading to open the door.
Haurchefant had a wide smile on his face that only grew when he was greeted by Edansyr’s. Clad in casual clothes, Edansyr could only assume that Haurchefant was resting before checking on him. He looked his partner up and down briefly when he moved to let him into the room. “Dressed very fancily tonight,” he commented.
Edansyr sighed and nodded, shutting the door and heading back to grab the cufflinks, focused on trying to get them on once more.
Crossing the room, Haurchefant took Edansyr’s arm in his and shooed his other hand away, attaching the cufflink to the sleeve. He kissed the shorter man’s hand gently, “May I ask the occasion of this formal attire?”
Edansyr sighed again and mumbled, “Aymeric invited me to dinner…”
“Oh really now?” Haurchefant took the other cufflink from the vanity to attach it to the other sleeve. “What’s the meaning? Business?”
“No, just… I actually forgot.” The Viera laughed a bit, “Something? Probably just as friends. I still can’t be underdressed for the occasion so…”
Haurchefant nodded and let go of his arm carefully, looking over to the jacket of this what-seemed-to-be suit. “Green, hmm?”
Edansyr nodded, “My mom gave it to me some time back.”
“You’ll freeze out there in that, darling…”
“Pshhh, nonsense, I’ve got a cloak,” Edansyr rolled his eyes. “Besides, it’s not a far walk away, seven minutes at most.”
“Seven minutes is sure time to get frostbite.” Haurchefant pointed out rather sternly.
“And one second is a cast of Esuna,” Edansyr retaliated, sticking his tongue out.
“Have a joyous time casting with frozen hands, my love.”
“Why thank you, I will.”
A comfortable silence stretched upon them as Edansyr grabbed his tie, putting it on in the mirror carefully. Haurchefant walked slowly to lay on the other man’s bed, sitting being difficult with his scar at times.
Collecting his suit jacket, he put it on himself after tying his tie in Eldridge tie knot. It was the only ‘fancy’ tie knot his father had shown him before his passing. He glanced in the mirror, adjusting the lapels and sleeves to fit right. Once he was satisfied, he turned to face the tall Elezen.
“I would ask you how I look, but I don’t wish for you to pain yourself in doing so…” He spoke softly, getting a small head raise from Haurchefant.
“Preposterous, I think every second would be worth it to look at your lovely face and body…” The taller man flirted, trying to get up very slowly with support if his elbows.
“H-Haurchefant!” Edansyr blushed, sitting on the bed and gently making Haurchefant’s arm settle flat. “Stay still, you’ll get yourself hurt.”
With a sigh and a mumbled complaint, the Elezen listened. “This is unruly…”
“I am following the orders of the chirurgeons and being concerned for your well-being.”
“What is the world without being able to see the lovely face of my saviour, my champion…!”
Edansyr rolled his eyes, “You’ll live, you jester.”
“I’ll be your court jester any day, any weather…”
“Oh, stop it, you flirt,” Edansyr sighed. “Do you mind if I check your scar, since its partial topic right now?”
“Be my guest, darling.”
Edansyr lifted Haurchefant’s cotton shirt up carefully, revealing the large red scar on his stomach. He looked away a moment; composing himself, telling himself that Haurchefant is still here, alive and breathing. He tried not to think of bad memories, tried not to remember what happened in that moment at the Vault when he was struck.
He snapped back to reality when he felt his hand being held by Haurchefant’s. He’s smiling at him, and he smiled back, focusing again on the state of the scar. Some stitches here and there at bits that skin wouldn’t mend at, all of it red nonetheless. Not blood red, but… close enough to make his eyes fixate on it more. He gently ghosted his hand over an edge of it, causing Haurchefant to flinch slightly. He immediately moved his hand away.
“Sorry…” he said softly, “should I apply the numbing ointment? Does it hurt bad right now?”
“Nay — it’s bearable — but thank you for the consideration, sweetheart.” Haurchefant smiled slightly.
Edansyr nodded and pulled his shirt back down, gently kissing the scar from the barrier of the shirt, hoping it’d hurt less that way. “All good for now.”
“Thank you for being so caring…”
“Nonsense. It’s the bare minimum, and you would do the exact same for me.” He took Haurchefant’s hand that he was holding and kissed it, getting up. He began to pace, deep in thought about the dinner he had to attend.
Silence once again stretched between the two men, one resting his eyes and the other pacing. Eventually, the constant back and forth pacing of Edansyr’s, Haurchefant just had to comment.
“Thinking?”
“Mmhm…” he responded back immediately, still pacing.
“About Aymeric or…?”
“About the whole dinner, but mostly about what to expect of him, yes.”
“Hmm…” Haurchefant paused a moment, “He’s quite the handsome leader, is he not?”
Edansyr blushed and stopped pacing, looking over at Haurchefant. “Is… is this a loyalty test?”
“A test? No, no; you can use your eyes, hmm? Tell me what you think of him.”
“Honestly? You won’t like… hate me…?”
“Unless you call him absolutely wretched.” Haurchefant laughs slightly.
Edansyr tried to remember to breathe a moment, before swallowing and responding. “Uh… I think he’s very handsome… and quite charming, even if he doesn’t mean it…”
“I agree, truly. Have you ever hugged him?”
“Um…” Edansyr bit his lip a moment, trying to remember. “Not that I recall. Have you?”
“A handful of times. Would you like me to describe it for you, my love…?”
“Y-Yes please…” Something inside Edansyr was compelled to hear about it, to try and imagine Haurchefant’s words when he said it. Lying about his slight crush on the Lord Commander was far out the window now.
“He smells like herbal tea, though I assume you know that considering thats the smell of his office nonetheless. The way his strong arms embrace… it’s like a strong business handshake, like a yearning touch as well. As if he won’t let go, as if it’s the last hug he’ll ever give, every time.”
Edansyr swallows his saliva once again, face definitely red trying to imagine what it might be like, rendered speechless. His brain is overheating and his ears twitching ever so slightly with thoughts, on if Aymeric’s hands are smooth, if they are dry, the way they move… he shakes his head and looks over at Haurchefant, who is grinning absolutely mischievously at him.
“Cat got your tongue?” He teased, resting his head again. “You don’t hide your infatuation with the Lord Commander well, my dear.”
“I— wait, you knew?”
“Yes!” He laughed again, clutching his stomach a bit. “Gods! The way you even look at him! It’s like when you look at me!”
“Wh— I—…” Edansyr fumbled over his words, trying to defend himself. “He just… he looks pretty okay…”
“Just pretty? You sure?”
“… no…”
“Hah! So do you dream of him yet?”
“Not really… I don’t really dream… most my dreams are of you if I do…”
“I’m flattered, dear. I’ve had my fair share of dreams…” Haurchefant sighed, reminiscing.
“Care to enlighten?”
“Sorry, dreams are for safekeeping,” he winked at Edansyr.
“You’re insufferable. Absolutely wretched.”
“All for not telling you my dreams? My oh my! How cruel you can be to a poor love-stricken knight…” he over exaggerated.
“Oh, fine, you’re tolerable.”
“Huzzah, spared by my lovers icy words!”
“Whatever…” Edansyr sighed and went to fix his hair in the mirror. He had recently got Jandelaine to cut it for him, a habit he had gotten into to honour those dear to him that have fallen. He cut it for Minfilia and the others, but also cut it shorter for Haurchefant. He didn’t lose him, but he almost did, he could’ve. He sighed again and messed with his pink and green hair, fussing a bit to comb it nice. It didn’t seem to fall flat in the right places, so he fussed over it more. He sighed and set the comb down, resting his head on the vanity’s desk.
Haurchefant slowly got up and quietly headed over to help Edansyr, the creaky floorboards giving him away. Edansyr didn’t look up, trying to focus on his breathing, but his ears twitched in Haurchefant’s direction. He picked up the comb and began to attempt flattening his partner’s hair, humming ever so slightly. He grabbed a nearby cup of water on the nightstand and dipped the comb in, trying to use that to flatten it more. Edansyr had lifted his head in the time he had left to get the glass, smiling softly.
He smiled back at Edansyr in the mirror, continuing to brush out his frizzy layers. He continued to hum slightly, a song Edansyr had heard in the Forgotten Knight once or twice. “You know,” Haurchefant started, “you should ask Aymeric for a hug tonight.”
A blush yet again creeped up on Edansyr’s face, and he blinked a few times before responding. “I don’t think that’s a smart idea…”
“Why not?”
“Well… I may forget to let go… or, get too nervous… I haven’t really hugged a lot of people, other than you, but we’re romantically involved so it’s different.”
“Hug him the way you hug me then.” Haurchefant smiled at him some more, still brushing, “I bet he’d like it nonetheless. Poor man probably hasn’t had a hug since I last hugged him.”
“When was that?”
“A year ago, Starlight Festival.”
“Poor man indeed… okay, I’ll think about it on the walk there.”
“Promise?”
“Swear on my feet, hun. The Warrior of Light with no feet… I’d have to ride a dragon everywhere, not just Ishgard…”
Haurchefant laughed at that, “Oh, well then I shall trust you will be doing some thinking…”
“Thank you…” He checked the clock and panicked a bit. “Damn, it’s later than I thought…” He sighed and an began to apply his eyeshadow and lipstick quickly.
“Need some help there…?” Haurchefant offered.
The Viera shook his head and finished both of the applications of makeup within a minute. “I learned to do it fast and on the road venturing between the provinces of Eorzea.”
“Well look at you, all dazzling,” his lover had grinned, setting the comb aside and backing up so he could stand from the vanity seat. “Do a twirl?”
“You’re just like my mother,” he groaned and stood, doing a spin so Haurchefant could see the different angles of the suit.
“Stellar. Stunning. Dashing, lovely and handsome. Extravagant, radiant—“
“Haurchie—“
“And! Perfect.” He kissed his cheek quickly, “Go eat some very fancy food and hug the Lord Commander for me.”
“Definitely, only for you, not for me at all,” Edansyr joked. He kissed his cheek in turn. “Love you. Don’t stay up late waiting for me, hmm?”
“Oh, please, I need to hear all of what happens though, darling!”
“No buts! Get rest, you fool. I don’t care even if you sleep in my own bed, I’ll just sleep in yours.”
“Fine. So strict…” Haurchefant sighed and opened the room door for Edansyr. “After you, sir.”
“Thank you, other sir,” Edansyr exited his room. They walked down the hall together, Haurchefant linking arms with him and walking him to the exit of House Fortemps.
“Could you please at least take my cloak darling…? It’ll be colder much later at night…” Haurchefant tried to sway Edansyr with the fact that it was his cloak, something Edansyr most likely would accept.
Edansyr sighed painstakingly, “Fine! Fine, only because you’re so dead set on it.”
“Thank you!” He grabs it off the coatrack and carefully puts it over Edansyr’s shoulders, fastening it. “The hood may be quite useless to you…”
“‘Tis alright, nothing I haven’t endured. Sleep soon, hmm?”
“Fine, it’s only fair I guess… love you.”
“Yeah, yeah, love you too.” Edansyr poked Haurchefant’s nose before turning and opening the door.
The bitter cold hit his face the second he opened it, and when he shut it behind him the cold engulfed his body whole like a giant wave from Costa Del Sol. The Viera began his walk to House Borel, head down, mind racing with what could happen there…