Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What in the hells are you doing, Riida?”

It was too early for this shite, Yuna concluded. 

Standing outside her house, there was none other than her sister wearing an outfit she had obviously made herself. Had it not been for the signature cap that the Postmoogles wear, Yuna would’ve thought her twin had gotten herself tempered. 

“Gooood morning, kupo! I have some mail for one Yuna Lana!” 

…Scratch that, she’s definitely been tempered. 

The au ra couldn’t help but stare at her even when the parcel was physically transferred into her own hands. While she wasn’t sure if the Postmoogle (PostMiqo’te? PostWarrior?) knew she’d been rendered speechless or not, she proceeded to rattle on until she remembered something.

“Oh, that’s right! I almost forgot to give you this, kupo.” Riida dramatically reached into her bag before fishing out a newspaper. “I was told to give this to you by my boss. A complimentary copy of the new Eorzea Herald . The Herald contains…” She peeks at a small piece of paper she had in her breast pocket. “…everything you need from current events to the comedy strips. The Herald is currently offering a…” By the Twelve, Yuna doesn’t want to hear any more of this…whatever this is! She wants her sister back, damn it!

While Riida was still going at it (how long is this ad-read anyway???), Yuna casually put the rest of the mail on a table by the door. She proceeds to unfold the paper only once before rolling it back up in a perfect cylinder. She waited for a moment, and just a moment, before bringing down the paper weapon over Riida’s head.

And again.

And again.

The Miqo’te dropped her speech card in favor of covering her head from the onslaught. Getting whacked on the head by her wasn't new, but the intensity of her swing was as fierce as a Manderville with a kitchen utensil.

This would be the first and last known job Riida took during her days as the Warrior of Light. It is a popular debate subject for the Sharlyan scholars of tomorrow.

Chapter Text

At one of the tables in Revenant’s Toll, a conversation between old friends is held. 

Now that the looming threat of the Final Days is in the past, it was a good opportunity to catch up with whatever she had to throw on the back burner. One of those things was having lunch with her old Storm buddies, a Roegadyn and a Hyur. While their Captain status outranks her Lieutenant, the way they talk makes it seem like they’re still Privates.

“What in the seven hells is that?”

Riida cocks her head. “What?”

“You know what I mean.” 

“Oh come on, Bird. It’s just a dog.” Riida reaches down to where Argos lays by her feet to give him a reassuring pet. 

“‘It’s just a bloody dog’, she says, and I’m just a cactaur.”

“I don’t know, I think she might be onto something.” 

“See? Even Muneyuki knows.”

Grounded Bird couldn’t help but sigh as he sank back in his chair. It was one thing to personally know the Warrior of Light, but it's another when you know her personally. What one hears through the grapevine pales in comparison to hearing what really happened from the Warrior herself. Not to mention she can be an absolute menace once you get close to her. The teasing, the jokes, and don't get him started on the pranks (most of them a cooperative junction alongside Mune). Is this truly the same person who could vaporize an entire army just by summoning a Demi-Bahamut? 

Don’t get him wrong. He considers Riida a great friend and an incredible ally. He and Mune wouldn’t have volunteered to march into Garlemald with her had that not been the case. You could only imagine his surprise to hear what had happened after she left Camp Broken Glass for the Tower of Babil just moons after everything had happened. Going to the moon? Time traveling?? Flying to the edge of the universe??? He was convinced that Zenos probably got a few good hits in…until the dog showed up. 

This dog, to put it lightly, is the most off-putting canine he’s ever seen…if you can even consider him one. His golden fur glitters nonstop and those electric blue eyes seem to stare through his soul every time he looks in Bird’s direction. 

“I think he’s kinda cute.” Mune commented, trying to get Argos to sniff his hand. 

“I think he’s kinda weird.” Bird countered. 

Riida grins. “You’re just jealous 'cause he can fly, aren’t you?”

“Wha-No! Why would I? Why does he have that ability in the first place?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

The dog barks in agreement.

Don’t meet your heroes, they say. They might put you in an early grave. At least, that’s what Grounded thinks.

Chapter Text

“I got the goods, cap’n!”

Riida flinches as her retainer excitedly presents some ceiling tiles. 

“Good work, Blan, but…what is this?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s your new ceiling exterior!”

“I get that, but…” The miqo’te leans over to see past her employee. “Where’s the rest of it?”

Blanwyda lights up at that. “Oh! Yes! I couldn’t carry it all the way so I put it in a safe place. Dee’s watching it! Oh, speaking of the old man…” She opens her satchel and presents a long rolled-up sheet. “‘Tis his haul. One sheet of wallpaper, no rips!”

“No…rips?” Well, it does make sense. Daedale was a botanist, after all. You would need to have good control of your hands to not accidentally botch your haul. Wait, what was she thinking? What was her botanist doing with something completely opposite to his job description?

A lantern lit up in her head. 

“...Is it because I don’t have a house?” Riida asked quietly. 

The taller woman nodded, making Riida deflate. “We’re worried about you, boss. I don’t remember a time when you called for us outside of inns and shopping districts. Forgive me words, but you’re the bloody Warrior of Light! Surely you would be swimming in enough gil to buy a plot, right?”

Her employer scratches the back of her head, defeated. “I know, I know. It’s just…the economy is in shambles, I guess. Not to mention I don’t really get special treatment in the harsh jungle that is real estate.”

“But your friend, Ryuhiko, was it? He just bought a house!”

“It’s complicated!” Riida exhaled. “Not to mention the moment I get my hands on gil they just…immediately go away? Look, how about this; how about I hand over some gil now and start a fund of sorts. That way I can start saving just in case a plot opens up…and please stop stealing from other houses. Lord Edmont gave me a weird look when he talked about his ceiling lamp going missing.”

Blanwyda gave her a small grin. It was not easy working for her sometimes, but it’s always worth it in the end.

Chapter Text

Riida breaks Haurchefant’s heart as much as she makes it flutter. 

He was more than happy to welcome the stragglers with open arms after what had happened in Ul’dah. Initially, he deemed himself selfish over being happy at the thought of the Warrior spending a few days in his Camp despite the circumstances. However, his obligations as a knight quickly overwritten that worrisome thought. 

He does manage to pick up little quirks in her personality just by being in close quarters of her. Like how her ears wiggle when she drinks his hot choco (He noted this when Yaelle had served her a mug once and got no reaction), or when her tail subconsciously latches on to her friends (and judging by Alphinaud’s reaction, this seems to be a common occurrence). Despite being a while since he last saw her, he couldn't help but fully take in the physical changes.

And that's what is currently bugging him.

You see when Riida first walked into his office that fateful day, she had rather a short, choppy mop on her head. It was always in such disarray that it was hard to tell if it was disheveled from all the running around. But now that some time has passed, it seems like it hasn't really seen a brush in some time. If he focuses too much on the bags under her eyes, he fears he may never get any official work done. But this is Riida, damn it. For being such a generous host, he couldn’t make time to even check on his own guests!

With determination in his eyes, the Knight Commander swiftly powers through his daily paperwork before pulling out a blank sheet of parchment and figuring out the plan.

Chapter Text

It was a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time. The sheer intimacy of it all makes her want to squirm away from his touch and lean into it at the same time. Down in her night clothes, sitting almost precariously on the edge of the bed, all she could do was allow Haurchefant to tame the wild beast that was her hair, lest he goes through with this promise of tying her down like an unruly chocobo so she doesn’t squirm (just the thought alone ignites a dull rush behind her ribs). 

He tries making small talk, but she’s too focused on the way his breath rolls past her ears and down her neck. Such rough hands built for holding a blade carefully detangle the locks that refuse to cooperate with the brush. When he had ordered her to get herself clean and meet him at his chambers, she thought she broke some Ishgardian etiquette and was due for a scolding. Instead, she was being cared for like a fragile doll. It’s…weird. She couldn’t name the fuzzy feeling coursing in her veins. Despite the rough start of the session, she honestly didn’t want Haurchefant to stop touching her like this.

When was the last time Riida forayed with simple grooming? It would have to be before the Scions moved to Mor Dhona, but how long ago was that? Granted, that last moment was done by someone else too, her sister. She remembered making a vague promise to take better care of herself, but…

(It’s been difficult running around, unable to recall your last meal versus the downright garbage she had to consume growing up. To rough it out in the Black Shroud again with your animal companions as your only source of warmth because you couldn’t afford the inn again. Refusing to take a dip in the river in fear of an ambush despite how long it’s been since she was properly refreshed. The blood and muck dying into your clothes, blending in a way that makes you unsure if they’ve been washed or beyond saving. The weird looks as if she was a voidsent in a fleshy puppet suit…)

She simply lets out a weary sigh. Her eyes droop as she melts into such warm hands…

“My friend, are you making that sound?”

“Huh?” The sound that came from her was groggy. Once she was back in the present, she immediately realized what he meant. There was a rumbling noise and it came from… her ?

She cautiously tips her head back to meet Haurchefant’s gentle gaze. When she does, the rumbling seems to get a bit louder. 

The elezen couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s good to know I’m not hurting you anymore. Pray, hold on just a little longer, and then I’ll release you.” Unable to trust herself with words, Riida could only nod before closing her eyes, leaning back into his warm torso. 

The rumbling got louder when Haurchefant couldn’t resist kissing her between her ears. Maybe everything will be alright after all.

Chapter Text

It’s too loud.

Too

Too 

Loud. 

In the tight space under her bed in the Pendants, Riida can’t shake off the loud ringing in her ears. 

She had completely covered up the window and even broke some of the lanterns to really make sure the room was in complete darkness, but the light wouldn’t let her. She had even put on a blindfold that matched her current gear so she could pass it off with a simple ‘It was made like that. Dwarves, y’know?’. All she got was a double headache from using it too long. The aether was practically bursting at the seams. Everything became too much. Too too much. As much as she wants to rip her eyes out, the miqo’te fears that the aether she’s been trying really hard to contain will escape at the first hole they see.

So under her bed, in total darkness, she whimpers. She couldn’t even be bothered bringing down a pillow or a blanket because of how much pain she was in. Gods, she feels ashamed to even consider calling someone to help. How could they? She was a bomb ready to blow at a moment’s notice. Riida could sense that Ardbert was giving her some space during this tumultuous time, but what about the other spectators haunting the edge of her privacy…? Are they sympathizing with her misery, or is it just a silent pity?

…

What would Yuna think if she saw her sister like this? A cold, broken, miserable version that was meant to be the Face of the Warrior. The Exarch said he couldn’t risk doing another summoning, even if the au ra was the original target all along. She would hope by some strange miracle that Yuna would just show up to the Shard unannounced and start taking names. If it didn’t hurt to breathe, the thought would’ve made her chuckle. 

Riida curls into herself some more. She could see light behind her eyelids. She couldn’t take a proper potion without the risk of it interfering with the aether or, even worse, getting outright rejected by her body overall. 

She lets the ringing in her ears consume her dreams in some piss-poor attempt to get some rest. Come morning, she wouldn’t be able to figure out the source of her complete body aches.

Chapter Text

Judging by her cleared sinuses and a dull headache from the smell, Riida wondered if she accidentally let Varshahn become a witness to her demise. 

But in her defense, Zero seemed very eager to have her, in her own strange way.

She is never one to turn down food no matter how unappetizing it may seem, but she couldn’t help but wonder if she’s in over her head as even a whiff of her final meal is causing the poor bystanders to faint and fall ill as it walks by them. She expected some heat, sure, but she couldn’t expect it to be anything past the seven hells full of Ifrit and Nidhogg combined.

She looks over at Zero, hoping to see some mulm of doubt so she can make an excuse to convince her it’s not too late to back out. Instead, she’s surprised to see a spark of joy in those dark eyes. She could’ve sworn she even saw color sprinkled in her cheeks as their plates marched ever closer. She looks over at Varshahn only to be startled by him staring back. Riida wanted to grimace at the look of sympathy in his eyes. Wouldn't be able to fully experience it, her arse. Once she puts Gomez down for the count, she'll be sure to commission a nice hearty bucket just for the satrap.

But as the plate was set down in front of her did she accept her fate. Maybe she did die in Ultima Thule after all, and this was the start of her eternal punishment. 

Chapter Text

Yuna peels her eyes away from the outside world to check on her…strange companion.

It was a miracle they hadn’t been followed. The rain did prove to be an advantageous opportunity, but it came at a great cost. After two suns of constant movement and little rest, the young Miqo’te that had helped her escape their shared confinement collapsed on top of some mud. She wasn’t waking up and her face was flaming hot to the touch. They had little time to take anything that would aid them, so Yuna was in a mental panic.

She had been forbidden to not even leave her chambers back in her old village. The only knowledge she knew outside of the shaman’s ramblings was from her brother. He had only talked about the basic things, but that was enough to come back for more. While she is familiar with how diseases work, she is out of her limit when it comes to properly treating them. Yuna knows they are serious since the village would always beg her to cure them, but false hope isn’t going to work this time.

But the first thing she’ll need to do is get this poor girl out of the mud. It took every muscle in her thin frame to even flip the blonde girl over so she wouldn’t accidentally suffocate, but now comes the challenging part. They had spotted a shed a few fulms back. It looked like it hadn’t been cared for for moons, summers even. She couldn’t remember where the closest body of civilization was. The shed will have to do. 

It took the small au ra several starts to get the girl to drag along. Once she found a rhythm, it took her what felt like bells to get the body into the makeshift depot. Luckily for her, there were some stripes of cloth Yuna could put under her and an unused bag of…something that she could justify as a pillow.

When she had peered out the window, the sun was on its way to set for the day. It was too late now to start looking for help, but maybe the rusty bucket by the girl’s head could provide enough water to hold her over for the night. The river was just down the hill, so hopefully she can make it back before it gets dark. 

As she grabbed the bucket and headed for the entryway, she heard her companion groan awake. She looks over to meet bleary, unfocused eyes. 

“Wh…” 

“Stay here. I’ll be back.”

She didn’t give the sick girl time to respond before she exited.

This girl was her ticket to freedom. The least she could do was help her out.

Chapter Text

“...You sure you’re going to be alright like that?” Riida couldn’t help but ponder her giant friend’s attire. 

Sure, ‘tis is the Moonfire Faire and he’s dressed for the occasion. On the other hand, this is Grounded Bird’s very first attempt at trying the Nimble Warrior course. The only problem was that he was wearing, Hydaelyn forgive her, one of the tiniest tangas she’s ever seen. Never mind the oversized chocobo mask he decided to wear as opposed to wearing sun lotion like everyone else. She could only imagine how long it would take for a bomb to blow that off.

Bird pumped a fist to his chest. “I’ll be at the very top before you could say Manderville. A few cheeky bombs ain’t gonna knock me down that easily.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” The Miqo’te was not convinced. “Just be aware that whatever tactics Curious Gorge taught you is not gonna work the moment you step onto the course.” 

“I can handle that!”

“And believe me, those bombs will pack a punch.” She gently taps her helmet under her arm. “Thankfully, as the Phoenix Riser on duty, I’ll be sure to drag you to safety should you end up face down on the water a little too long.”

“Cut me some slack, woman. I’m not going to bloody drown.”

“Okay, then explain why the Storm Marshal had to help Mune and me by literally fishing you out of the water after fighting Leviathan.”

Bird couldn’t help but let out a squawk after making a few false attempts at a rebuttal. Eventually, he just gave up, muttering curses under his breath as he made his way to the obstacle course. Riida knows he means well, but it’s so much fun to rile him up and make those bird noises he’s been trying to cover up.

Chapter Text

The Warrior of Light is said to be a courageous hero. One whose emotions do not falter while staring down the edge of doom. Such a tall, bright beacon of hope with a permanent smile on her face. While…some of those accountings are true, there is one thing people tend to forget.

The Warrior of Light, Riida Aru, can experience emotions just like everyone else. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, she can feel it all. 

But lately, she’s been feeling this strange peculiar emotion brewing inside whenever she sets her sights on a peculiar man..or rather, Miqo’te. 

While she wasn’t present at the Crystal Tower excavation, she has found herself drawn to G’raha Tia after being mistakenly called for to the First instead of her sister. Their first encounter outside of the Crystarium was awkward to put it lightly. G’raha, under the guise of the Exarch, sheepishly admitted that while Riida was the Warrior of Light, he was actually hoping for her counterpart, Yuna. While Yuna is still considered a Warrior of Light, it was Riida who was the face of hope while Yuna was off dealing with shadier deals that aren’t really mentioned in history books. Riida didn’t mind though, she justified it as an honest mix-up and promised the Exarch she’ll do her best in her sister’s place. 

As her time on the other Shard goes on, she begins to develop feelings for the leader. She recognized this feeling only once before, and that only led to her first heartbreak. She kept her distance which was very easy to do with a ghost companion and stuffing your entire body with unbalanced aether. Even after the whole theatrics at Mt. Gulg and the practically immediate rescue from Hades, her main focus was saving the others first before worrying about herself. 

Now with his hood seldom on, Riida couldn’t resist stealing a few looks at him. She can’t deny that he was pretty to look at, crystals and all. He had been very reluctant about opening up, but when he did it was already too late. The surviving Miqo’te couldn’t help but cling to him as he stood still for the rest of time, but thankfully that wasn’t the end of their story.  

Riida didn’t hesitate to rush to the Crystal Tower once she knew her friends were back home. Seeing that sleepy look on G’raha’s face made her heart flutter. She couldn’t help but scoop him up in a hug, unable to fight back the tears she had been holding onto for Hydaelyn knows how long. 

That warm feeling in her chest, however, turned into something else when her sister returned to Mor Dhona and G’raha was all over her. She had relished the time spent together as younger-older Miqo’te recovered, but everything changed when Yuna arrived. Practically everyone could see the former Exarch light up in her presence. He would talk about her nonstop and yet clam up with a red face whenever she walked into the room. At least on the outside, Yuna doesn’t seem to really react to his advances. Riida’s chest always gets tight when this happens, but never acts upon it.

She wants to see G’raha happy, and she wants to see Yuna happy. As the Warrior of Light, it is always her duty to prioritize the well-being of others above herself.

Chapter Text

“Hells no!” Riida crossed her arms in an X in front of her torso. “Not happening! Not even a million Gil can convince me!”

In front of her, Grounded is holding out a worn-out axe fully expecting his friend to take it.

“You gotta learn how to take eventually, you daft cat. What happens when your fancy grimoire of yours starts dropping pages all over the place?”

“I'll simply put it back in, duh. Plus my egis will protect me.” For all of five seconds, she didn't want to admit.

“What's wrong with tanking?”

“Whats wrong? Do you not know how heavy those shites are? Especially when you have to constantly move them? Grimoires are easy and doubles as a blunt weapon when I'm out of aether. Sounds like a better deal to me.”

“Sounds like an issue of skill to me.”

“Sod off, Bird.”

“Pick up the ax.”

“Bite me.”

Later, residents in Mor Dhona would describe the scene of Riida chasing down a Roegsdyn twice her size with a Scholar trailing behind them as ‘an average Windsday occurrence’.

Chapter Text

The memory occurred not soon after Riida started taking on the primals. 

Titan’s sharp rocks and near misses with the shrinking edges of the battlefield left her with more scratches and rips than she would have liked. Her robe, a housewarming gift courtesy of the Scion’s secretary, was practically clinging on to whatever survived the onslaught. She actually felt really upset about ruining such nice clothes from a really kind person. The miqo’te can only hope the girl would understand once she gets a good look upon her return. She couldn’t help but feel around her coin purse and groan. Guess she’s hunting tonight, she mentally cried. 

What had happened after Titan, as they say, was history.

There had been no time for reprieve between Titan and Garuda. Just as Riida worked up the courage to ask Lord Haurchefant for any spare clothes, Alphinaud had all but grabbed her hand and dragged her in the direction of the deserted airship. If Titan’s rocks were sharp, then Garuda’s feathers were on a whole different level. 

Twelve, she just knows she looks like shite. She was glad Lord Haurchefant was a nice enough gentleman to not say anything directly in her face about it. 

Everything was starting to blur together. Next thing she knew, the exact moment she plopped herself down on a bench by the Lower Decks she felt an unusual warm tug at her hand the same way Alphinaud did but much more gentle yet firm. She was too tired to resist, so she let herself get more or less kidnapped. 

It was a Viera man, going by his ears. His jacket (or at least the back of it) looked nice and really well-kept. His gloves go really well with it, and the accessories she could see were immaculate. The firm grip never wavered. Once Riida was able to fully process the situation she found herself in. 

“Whe-”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything weird.” He assures her. “But what I am gonna do is to get you some better robes. It’s a miracle they haven’t disintegrated yet!”

Riida couldn’t help but look down rather subconsciously. She hated to admit it, but he was right. Garuda’s attacks plus the heavy winds really did treat her robes like a used handkerchief. Thankfully it was still covering the most important bits outside of whatever shirt she had underneath, but this is probably a divine intervention to get something that could scream “Garlean Ass Kicker.”

Sensing his words might’ve distressed her, he tilts his head to her. “It’s not anything fancy, but I can assure you you’ll get more mileage out of it than your old one.” 

“A-Ah…Th…Thank you…?”

“Sascha.”

“Thank…you, Sascha.”

With that, the Warrior of Light was introduced to a hearty meal and a certain robe most people in Eorzea will know her by. It was soft, long, and had pockets a plenty. When she was able to afford more clothes, Riida couldn’t have the heart to depart from her favorite robe. It was a reminder of the good in people, even if they’re just strangers who will only encounter each other once. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was up to these days.

Chapter Text

Riida couldn’t help but look at herself in the mirror.

While she was uneducated in the way of Ishgardian fashion…even Y’shtola could see how odd this must be. 

Sure, she trusted Emmanellain enough to heed her complaint about not having anything ‘nice’ to wear for Aymeric’s dinner invitation. Was it formal? Was it casual? Was there a possible encoded message between the lines of the formal paper invite that she didn’t see? 

It had gotten so bad that Edmont had to step in to calm her down. Lord Aymeric is simply thanking her for ending the war that has plagued their nation, he explains. Surely it would be acceptable if she wore something nicer than her usual arcanist robes. Cue the younger Fortempt son swaggering into the room and casually whisking her away as if he knew that said robes were indeed the nicest thing she owned. 

…and it still is when compared to this…weird coat. Even if it was her color.

It was definitely made with a tall elezen with broad shoulders in mind. It was clear as a prism that the Fortemps manor did not have anyone tailored to a woman for a long time. There was no hope in running down to the Jeweled Crozier to find something that she’d immediately have to slice open a hole for her tail to slip through. Had the invitation not arrived at such short notice, Tataru would’ve spun something more elegant by now.

Riida pushes down a lump in her throat. “Are you sure this is going to be suitable?” She hesitantly asked. 

Emmanellain simply responded with a somewhat firm pat on the back. “Chin up, old girl! The Lord Commander’s socks are going to blow right off once you walk in donning the height of High House fashion!”

Chapter Text

The rapid beating of her heart filled her ears as Thancred covered her mouth, practically crushing her to him as they hid in the shadows. Whatever mission objective got them there practically flew out of her brain as her senses were more or less invaded by the Gunbreaker. 

She knew that coming along with him for the infiltration would be risky, but they hadn’t encountered anyone until the very last moment. Riida would’ve been cooked alive had Thancred not pulled into another hallway and covered her with his body.

She forgot how to breathe as the enemy’s footsteps got closer and closer. She didn’t know if Thancred was even breathing through the loud thumps in her ears.

The Warrior of Light should’ve been scared of getting caught in this compromising position, but something about the way her companion holds her should’ve made her feel suffocated, claustrophobic even, with how firm his grip is. However, at the same time, that same grip made her feel safe and protected. Every fear and possibility she could think of was washed away in the security of his thick arms. 

Eventually, the footsteps faded further down the hallway. When he was sure the coast was clear, Thancred let Riida free from his grip. If he heard the faint whine, he didn’t mention it. He did apologize for his rough handling, but the Miqo’te waved him off saying he did what he had to do. She almost added that he was more than welcome to do that again, but she held herself back. 

With that, the mission was back on. Thancred poked his head out to see if the coast was really clear signaling his companion to get moving. 

The moment Riida’s head hit the bedroll afterward, all she could wonder was if all that was simply a delusion brought on by the Echo even as the memory of his scent followed her into her dreams.

Chapter Text

What Yuna doesn’t see, she feels instead. 

Her sister is off doing something dangerous again. She grips her staff tightly out of instinct. 

While they haven’t physically seen each other in several moons, the one thing that connects them as sisters would make itself known every now and then at the most inconvenient times. The contents of these strange visions had no solid connections to the others. She’s seen Riida adopt a rather adorable whittret, make fast friends with a man who thought he was a zombie, bawl her eyes out as others try to pry her away from an unmoving elezen…it was only a handful of memories that she could recall. She wonders if it works both ways. 

She doesn’t mind these visions at all since they’re not as frequent as it seem. However, without warning, they’ve been starting to ramp up at a faster rate. More encounters, each more dangerous than the last. Rarely does Yuna feel some faint phantom pain in places where Riida’s been stabbed, burned, electrocuted...everything and everyone, it would seem. Had that had been it, the au ra would’ve made it her personal mission to straight up yell at her sister for always getting into danger and not caring for her injuries afterward. Instead, the visions seem to shift into something else. 

She almost swatted at a fairy that suddenly appeared in front of her one day. They claimed to be in a pact with her sister and caught her up to speed on what exactly she’s been up to. Going to another Shard? That sounds like something only her sister would get herself into. 

Then suddenly, she could see it .

Whiteness trickled in from the corners of her visions. She initially assumed it was always part of them that she hadn’t been paying attention to. As time went out, the white borders slowly began to spill into the center frame. The sounds become mute as it’s drowned out by an increased ringing in her horns. As soon as the ringing takes over the entire vision is when it stops. The color bleach hasn’t fully covered what she’s been seeing, but something tells her it’ll be very bad if it ever comes to that. She needs to be concerned about her sister’s well-being, but that pesky fairy hadn’t made itself known after the initial meeting. They were so excited about talking to the Warrior of Light’s family that they forgot to introduce themself with their name.

All she could do now was to unironically pray for her sister’s safety, and hope she explains herself with every detail what in the seven hells is she doing. If she ends up dying in another world, Yuna will make sure she’ll be there to return her corpse back home. 

Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up that way.

Chapter Text

“Wow, such a lovely view…if you get rid of that sore thumb right over there.” 

The child who volunteered to accompany her chuckled. “I couldn’t agree more.”

On their way back to The Great Work, Varshahn had recommended a detour. Since they had some time before having to return to the others, the young Au Ra pointed out a path leading to an overhand with the promise of a good view. True to his word, good was just the start of cliffside view…if only anyone had the gall to chop down that Telophoroi structure blocking the way of a seemingly endless sparkling ocean. 

(It’ll be something to look forward to once all this gets resolved. Riida wonders if Yuna would love this.)

Once she got her fill of the wind blowing through her hair, she turned over to her guide and told him, “Thanks for showing me this, kid. I know you didn’t have to, but now I’m starting to understand the beauty of Thavnair.” 

“I can assure you there are plenty more things to see and do in this country. If you ever end up in Radz-at-Han, I’ll be sure to ask the Satrap for a personal tour.” 

The Miqo’te couldn’t help herself. She reached over and ruffled Varshahn’s hair. “You don’t have to do that. I know times are rough for you guys, and I don’t want your boss to put time out of his day just for me.”

Varshahn opened his mouth, but it was the screeching of their mounts that made the first move. Riida snaps her head fast enough to see their flightless avian mounts fleeing as some of the local beasts they managed to avoid earlier began their descent on their riders. The Warrior instinctively grabbed the kid and jerked him closer to her. There wasn’t much she could do if she had to be honest. If it was just her, then she wouldn’t mind bum-rushing between the lines and not really caring for any swipes that managed to land on her. But she didn’t want to earn the ire of a leader she hadn’t met yet. She glances over the cliff and throws some numbers around. In a flash of genius or stupidity, an idea was born. 

“Varshahn, promise me you won’t tell the Satrap.” Riida gave him a serious look as she pulled out an umbrella. 

Before the kid could even ask what she was going to do, he felt himself being tugged again. This time, the Warrior of Light managed to throw him over her shoulder like a popoto sack with just one hand. How interesting! 

While his vision was skewed, he could feel a rush of aether being conjured up. It felt like a regular spell cast, but at the same time, it felt a bit off. Sure enough, he could hear the sound of a bomb going off followed by the weird sensation of his body being transported somewhere else. He looked up to see that they managed to get behind the hostile beasts, surrounded in smoke and moving in a way that showed they had gotten stunned. 

He didn’t think too much about it as the Warrior books it back to The Great Work on foot. It’s a good thing the alchemists didn’t implement something to simulate motion sickness in this small body.

Chapter Text

Riida did not stop running until she saw the aetheryte. The moment she slowed down she realized that she didn’t stop to call for a mount at any time. 

The others had gathered around the entryway as she gently put the kid down before collapsing to the floor. 

“Twelve…above…” She wheezed. 

She could hear Varshahn saying something, likely recalling what had happened before the sound of crunching dirt was heard approaching her. When the sound stops before her face, Riida cracks an eye open to see Thancred crouching over her. 

“Did we have fun?” He teased. 

If she had any feeling in her arm, she could’ve whacked that smirk with her umbrella. Instead, all she could say was, “Oh…sod off…” Before the rogue helped her back on her feet with a chuckle. 

Despite having been trained as a Monk, every nerve of her was on fire. It didn’t help that she switched to Blue Mage in a panic, but that was the first thing she thought of when trying to recall a widespread stun spell. Even before hauling her arse all the way back to The Great Work, there was also something else amiss.

“Hey, kid…What in the seven hells…is the Satrap feeding you?” She pointed out.

Varshahn tilted his head innocently. “I beg your pardon?”

“No offense…but you weigh a ton! I know you’re still a growing boy, but you gotta learn…when to say no! Even if it’s Satrap!”

The kid didn’t look too phased about it. “I’m sorry. Once you indulge in Hannish cuisine, it’s hard to deny it.” He said curtly. “Once we’re done here, I will gladly introduce you to some.” And with that, he walked off to find Nidhana.

As soon as Varshahn was out of earshot, Estinien gave her a pointed look.

“...What?”

Chapter Text

When the hunting party left that day, they were expected to bring home as much as they could forage.

Instead, they brought home another mouth to feed. 

The caravan was already struggling to get by, but now that they have a child to take care of…

One of the hunters spotted her unconscious, surrounded by broken pieces of metal that didn't really look like Garlean Magitek. Nevertheless, they justified that if they can figure out the properties of the metal then they can use it for armor or weapons. As for the child, whose appearance was just as foreign as the metals, the party eventually came to a unanimous decision to not just leave her out in the open. It was a miracle that a beast didn't get her first, she should be thankful.

When the child did wake, she spoke in a language no one in the caravan knew. It wasn't some kind of baby talk as she looked no older than five, maybe six summers. It was clear from the get-go that this strange child was going to be a lot more work than they were equipped with.

The traveling group had very few children among them, and no one was equipped with the knowledge of child caring outside of their own race. Everyone had their own role to play so they could all stay alive. Their own kin, as young as they are, could also sense that this kit was not like them. They copied their parents and avoided her if necessary. No one could really afford to take care of her, really. But they knew the Kami would frown on them if they decided to ditch her somewhere. 

The girl, for lack of better words, left a lot to be desired when it came to teaching her their ways. Thanks to the language barrier, it was even harder to teach her to hold a stick let alone use a bow. Her light-haired ears and tail stick out like a sore thumb, making it impossible for her to blend in with her surroundings if she doesn’t trip over herself first. 

She was just as a lost cause as she was an enigma. All they could hope for was that the Kami would give them a sign as to what to do about her. If They sent her to them, then maybe she has a purpose.

Chapter Text

Riida instinctually reels back as the gauze meets its mark. Haurchefant did not hesitate to follow her.

After the high from winning the trial by combat to clear their friend’s name (and the kiss Haurchefant scooped her up in after that , which hasn’t been addressed yet), the Knight Commander offered to tend her wounds as the chirugeons available were occupied with the other combatants. Riida agreed, still on that adrenaline rush, and followed him back to the manor without any complaint. 

It was when he actually got to work addressing her wounds did Riida realized the extent of the damage.

She had traded her grimoire for a samurai blade, that way she could get in right up in the fact of those pesky members of the Heavensward that accused her friends in the first place so that they wouldn’t lay a finger on Alphinaud. She figured they wouldn’t be too familiar with the martial arts of the Far East, and she was right. She was still trying to understand the mechanics of it, but this advancement in her progress is definitely something she’ll have to tell her mentor when she gets the chance!

But for now…

Riida yelps as the elezen flicks her on the forehead. 

“You’re spacing out.” He said bluntly.

“Ah, sorry.” Her ears drooped sheepishly. “Just spaced out.”

The look on his face was something she hadn’t seen before, but he didn’t say anything afterward. At least not immediately. 

He wraps another bandage around another in her forearm. While she did technically wipe the floor with a flick of her blade, it didn’t mean she came out of it unscathed. With all the bumps and cuts the knight managed to find, it was a miracle she didn’t accidentally get a limb chopped off in the process.

She looks back at Haurchefant, still focused on addressing his wounds. Her heart hasn’t calmed down since the aftermath, but Riida didn’t seem to be bothered about it at the moment. More importantly, she’s going to suck in all the attention that this new side of her loyal knight is showing her, afraid that he won’t show it again. Once the weals have died down will she ask about what had happened outside the courtroom.

Chapter Text

By the grace of a shoebill, Riida had found the Exarch slumped over next to a rock.

She feared the worst until she heard him say something before jolting awake once her hand met his shoulder. 

“Forgive me, I was…lost in a dream.” He had said breathlessly. “I needed some fresh air, and thought to rest for a moment. It would seem I am more fatigued than I realized. Too much time away from the tower, I fear. It drains me, leaves my body frail and weak. Though, in truth, it is debatable whether I can still call this my body…”

Despite seemingly running on fumes, he marches on. He said his piece like he’s been rehearsing it as if this would be his only opportunity to speak his mind. The only times he felt “off-script” was when she answered his question about what she do after defeating the Lightwardens followed by her asking what will he do once this was all over. 

“In honesty, I would like to know more of you,” Riida confessed, sitting down next to him. 

“Of me ? Surely you’re not interested in the crazy dreams of this old man.”

“Why not? You have been fighting this fight for a century, right? You must have some kind of dream or ambition you have reserved for the occasion.” Riida couldn’t help but grin. “Once the celebrations die down, I could see you scurrying off to some secret cottage out in Lakeland where you’ll spend the rest of your retirement.”

That certainly got a small chuckle out of the Exarch. Even if he was shaking his head. “No, no. Nothing too frivolous. I once told you that there are things we can ill afford to lose. “Things,” I said, though in truth I spoke of a person. One who is unaware of the full extent of my plans, and possibly never will. I have come to terms with this in my mind, yet my heart yearns to lay everything bare. For she is my inspiration, and I would give much and more for the chance to speak with her as friends, with no thought of concealment. Should she indulge me with her tales, I would regale her with my own─about my efforts in Norvrandt, perhaps...”

Riida’s tail thumps on the ground next to her, hopefully away from the Exarch’s view. He had told her at the very beginning that she was not meant to be here. He didn’t say who exactly he was referring to, but even someone like her could tell he was referring to her sister. A fellow Warrior of Light just like her, but while Riida stumbles into freeing another nation from its turmoil and gets all the glory, Yuna is contracted by Tataru to take on missions that are just as important in the grand scheme of things. It’s no surprise that her missions ended up becoming public knowledge afterward. There was a certain tone in his voice whether he talked about her that Riida couldn’t deny being a little jealous about. There's no use in complaining though. And it's not like the Exarch is showing any real animosity towards her, but she could only hope there's some kind of respect going on behind those hooded eyes of his.

She fights the urge to droop her ears as the Exarch continues to yearn to ask Yuna about her next adventure, and how he hopes to join her for one in the future. Just him noting how his heart swells at the thought makes her swell as well but for a different reason. Of course, should they see this come to fruition, they would need to see their victory in this coming battle. 

Despite her disrupted aether, she was able to get up swiftly. For the Exarch, however, it is a struggle with those old joints of his. 

“Would you like some assistance?” The Miqo’te offered.

“I’m alright, but thank you.” She pretends to not see yet another failed start of getting up. “No need to wait for me, I’ll only impede our hard-earned progre-” Before he could finish, he felt two arms scooping him up into a bridal carry. Whatever else he was going to say died down, and he chose to pull his hood down even further to cover the flushed skin he knew was visible. 

“Apologise, my Lord. I simply can’t let that happen.” With that, Riida begins making their way to Amity despite the Exarch’s protesting that he can walk.

Chapter Text

It should have been her. 

The crackle of aether and the sound of piercing metal play in her ears on repeat.

It’s been getting hard to tell if it’s warm or cold anymore.

Riida stares at her hands. The same hands she weakly tried to cast Physick over the grievous wound. There was blood. A lot of blood. Too much pouring onto the cobblestone and her clothes. There was blood pooling out of Haurchefant’s mouth as he asked her to smile on his dying breath. That was the only thing she recalled hearing that day. She vaguely remembers mouths moving but nothing coming out of them. Riida couldn’t bear to wear the clothes she wore that day, but couldn’t have the heart to discard them either. 

It has been several moons since then. The pain seems to get worse even as the physical wounds have long since patched up. When Haurchefant had consoled her after being blamed for the Sultana’s death, he had helped her go through the grief of that traumatic moment. But even as she tried to replay that moment in front of his own grave, the soothing instructions only brought more tears raining down on the broken shield she’d been trying to wipe off the snow that had gathered since her last visit.

It was a miracle she had the energy to carry on. Maybe it was secretly a blessing that the urgency to chase after Thordan was why she was about to keep her head afloat for so long.

(Enough to activate Deadwyrm Trance. Enough to obliterate the Heaven’s Ward with Deathflare and the wrath of her Egis back to back to back, no wasting a breath for a cooldown. Had she pushed herself harder, she might’ve been able to summon the likes of Bahamut to reduce the sham king into nothing. Whether or not she would make it out alive during that was an afterthought.)  

Regardless, the damage is done. Ishgard is on her way to a new era her people have never seen before. Some are glad to be moving on from the pain and misery this thousand-year war brought down on them. As for her…it’ll take a long time, she fears. She doesn’t know how long it’s going to take, and she’s afraid to ask how long it takes for it to ‘normally’ go away. If she has to live with this until the end of her days, she will. 

She vaguely feels Francel’s nudging of her shoulder. That only happens when she’s been sitting at this site much longer than necessary. She’s been getting a lot of nudges recently, but that’s okay. The warmth coming from his hand helps ground herself back to reality for a little while. It reminds her that her back is getting sore and her legs have gone numb from sitting there too long. With his help, they safely walk down to the bottom of the cliffside and back to Camp Dragonhead to get her warmed up.

Chapter Text

If Riida felt out of place before, then she certainly met her match here.

The ballroom seemed endless, stuffed to the brim with moving bodies. She could vaguely make out the faces of certain nobility in this place. Her Scion companions had been swept away in the tide of fancy attire, leaving Riida to fend off lesser nobles trying to rope her with a family heir. She’s been able to successfully distract some of them by pointing to Tataru whenever someone compliments her dress and running away the moment their heads turn. 

That idea, however, could only work for so long. If only she had Thancred’s charm. 

She had been cornered by a lordling who was insisting that she link up with his son. He’s a very successful merchant, he claims. He was sure having her as his betrothed would be great for business, right? Right? He essentially starts showering her with half-baked compliments and practically ignores her when she points to Tataru with a vague ‘if you want to know more, talk to that Lalafell.’, but alas he does not take the hint nor the money trail.  

There was not a familiar face in close proximity, so Riida was prepared to take drastic action…but then a miracle from Hydaelyn lay in front of her in the shape of a familiar gentlemanly inspector. Cactpot!

“Oh, there you are!” The Miqo’te pushes aside the lordling as she quickly wraps around her friend’s shoulders. “I thought I lost you, darling .” To put salt on the noble’s freshly wounded pride, she got on her tippy-toes to give him a quick peck on the cheek. If that didn’t keep him away, she really had no clue. 

Thankfully, her companion managed to connect at least two dots from the situation. “Ah, Riida! I wondered where you ran off to. Hopefully, you didn’t run into any trouble, did you?”

“Well…” She looked over her shoulder to see that the man was nowhere to be found. “Not anymore, but certainly we can keep each other company for a little bit. Unless you’re currently on a case, in that case, don’t let me stop you.”

The inspector gently eases her hands off his broad shoulders, but doesn’t let go when he brings them closer to his chest. “As much as this place calls for any mystery to be solved, I’m afraid I’m here on…”official family business”, as my parents would say. Had I known any better, I would’ve assumed they were trying to find a suitor for me!” That sounded like something his mother would do.

“Then may I propose that we stick to each other for the time being? Surely your parents will back off once they see you sweeping off the Warrior of Light’s feet.”

A lightbulb could manifest over Hildibrand’s head at that moment. “Why, what a wonderful idea, my dear assistant!” He kisses her knuckles, unaware of the effect it had on her. “Pray, let us make our way to the dancing floor and move our bodies only a Manderville Man can!”

Chapter Text

The first time Riida saw Haurchefant out of his armor, her mind practically short circuited. 

An invitation from one of the high houses, she couldn’t remember who, to a formal gathering of sorts. As newly appointed wards, they are expected to join their host. Tataru was more than happy to put her knowledge of Ishgardian fashion to the test at such short notice. The Miqo’te was just grateful that this dress was the first outfit since arriving here that didn’t require her to manually cut out a hole for her tail. 

What the Lalafell failed to tell her, however, was that she had also made a matching outfit for Haurchefant. She takes great joy watching her friend burst into a red that goes with their attire. 

The knight, for lack of better words, was utterly dashing. Back at Camp Dragonhead, he was always in his uniform and if he ever took it off in some form, Riida didn’t know. Shedding the armor entirely revealed a muscular build underneath. The suit fills his frame oh so perfectly. He even gave himself a new hairstyle that makes him even more attractive! 

She could see his mouth moving, but whatever he said was muted by the nervous beating of her heart. He puts out a hand, and it takes a moment to cycle through the crash course of Ishgardian etiquette to remember that, since Haurchefant was her escort tonight, she has to link arms with him until they arrive at the event.

If the dragons or Lady Iceheart don’t get to her first, then it would be the way Haurchefant keeps looking at her every time she tries to steal a peek at him. Hydaelyn, give her strength.

Chapter Text

A loud bang on the table is drowned out by the ever-busy noise of the Gold Saucer. Two patrons at a table could only watch as their third slammed her head on the table after taking a big swig of her drink.

“This is a heaping load of bullshite!” She wept. “I could’ve been rich! The Blackjack could’ve been mine already!”

The Elezen to her right leaned over and gave some reassuring pats to her back. “There, there. There’s always next time.”

“Next time will just be another bloody consolation prize!” Riida picks her head up to look at her auburn-haired companion. “I was this close , Sori! Next time I see that naked Manderville again I’ll-” Her drunken rambling was interrupted by a hiccup followed by another defeated thunk to the table. 

“Yep, she’s gone.” The other companion signed at Sorisana. “She should be lucky to get fourth prize.”

“True…but seeing she was one number off from winning the Jumbo Cactpot…and she’s been wanting that mount for so long…” The Elezen gave the inebriated Miqo’te a firm pat before withdrawing.

Adalyn couldn’t help but sigh. “She’s gonna have to accept my offer on how to play Triple Triad eventually. Faster than getting her arse kicked by Yojimbo on the first swipe.”  

“In the meantime, pray help me get her to the airship. I’m not confident in dragging this oversized feline across the building.”

“Actually, I think I have an old Potion of Strength sitting in the bottom of my stash that you can use.”

“Now let's not go there-”

Chapter Text

“G’raha.” 

No reaction.

“Hey, G’raha.”

Still nothing. Riida couldn’t raise her voice either, or else she’d earn the ire of the other patrons in this library. But G’raha had found a book related to what they were looking for and got so absorbed in it that he was still unaware he’d been in that exact pose for a few bells. It’s a good thing Krile had her fetch him. Time is not really on their side here.

And yet the redhead was still not reacting to her soft calls in his ear. It must be a really good time, she thinks. One glance at the words and immediately her mind turns to putty. She could recognize ‘the’ and ‘henceforth’, but any word longer than that went through one ear and out the other. It's fascinating to learn that most of her companions in the Scions were scholars who had the tattoo to prove it, G’raha included. Compared to them, it seems like a miracle for someone like her to make her way out of a simple grimoire to do the spells she’s been able to do.

While Riida lacks in book smarts, she certainly knows a thing or two in street smarts. If G’raha doesn’t want to pop the little buddle he formed, then she’ll have to play dirty. 

Subtly, she cleared her voice to obtain a lower octave more easily. Once she was confident that her plan would succeed, she leaned into his ear with a sultry “Raha~” .

A choked gasp proved to be successful. His ears immediately shot up as the tome in his hands threatened to slip between them. He stumbled with him before clutching it protectively to his chest as he looked at Riida with bewildered eyes. 

“Mi-Yun-Rii-Wha-” He fights for his life trying to contain his voice and the noise he made attracted a few eyes. 

“There you are, I was worried that I lost you,” Riida whispered. “Krile wanted me to retrieve you. Let’s call it for now and get some lunch, okay? Then you can go back to reading.” With that, she headed for the exit before he could even respond.

Chapter Text

Yuna was only a couple of steps into the Rising Stones before she was ambushed into a hug. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, and yet her sister always managed to scoop her up before she could think about bracing herself. 

But only if she didn’t do this in front of others…

“Yuyuuu!” The Eikonslayer, the Warrior of Light and Darkness herself, coos over her sister. Her words teeter on the edge of being incomprehensible over the loud rumbling from her throat. “You’re back! I missed you!” She’s rubbing her face against her robes, probably mentally complaining about how she smells weird again. 

She could see Estinien’s smirk with his arms crossed from her added height, clearly amused by this. That bastard. Tataru, her contractor, is trying to fight down the grin making its way to her face that was supposed to be professional. Eventually, she was eventually lowered back to the ground. Riida released her from her bear hug but was still clinging to her shoulders. 

“I missed you too.” The au ra replied with a small smile. “A little pixie regaled me your exploits on the First.”

“Ah, Feo Ul! They’re such a sweetheart, aren’t they?”

“...They also told me how you almost died from absorbing the Light aether.” 

“On the bright side, I got better! Walked it off like a champ, even.” 

“Then why is your hair still bleached white?” To prove her point, Yuna grabbed onto a lock of hair that was tainted by the imbalance and tugged. “You promised you wouldn’t get seriously hurt when I left.”

Riida’s ears drooped. “...I’m sorry, Yuyu. I had no choice.” She said somberly. “But the worst part is behind us, and I’m on my way to get my hair fixed. I swear this is the last time I’ll throw myself in harm’s way.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

Chapter Text

Come playtest my new attraction, said Godbert. Bring your friends, the more the merrier, he said. 

The moment she saw giant fruits raining down on her from who knows where Riida realized there’s a reason his son tries to avoid him. 

In the beginning, it didn’t seem like anything was amiss. Since she managed to rope Grounded and Muneyuki into it, they unlocked special team-based games. They faced off against another party of three with a giant ball in between them. While the height matchups seem unfair from an outsider’s perspective, it proved advantageous when Bird’s massive height helped score them the winning goal.

When they were escorted to the next stage, all hell broke loose. 

While they were still considered a “team”, it was essentially a free-for-all and a crapshoot prayer in hopes that everyone manages to get to the end of the obstacle course before the timer ran out…or if you somehow ended up falling out of bounds (Riida’s trying hard not to think of the logistics of it. Surely Godbert has a plan should it happen….right?).

After falling off rotating platforms, slipping and sliding up a steep incline, and now probably getting crushed by fruit-shaped objects, the Warrior of Light realized she might be in over her head by agreeing to this without establishing what kind of compensation she and her friends will receive if they even make it out of this playtest session alive. 

Maybe she’s already dead and this is her eternal purgatory. 

Speaking of which, where are her friends? She swore she ran past Bird fighting for his life, but where was Mune? 

In that split second, a hammer swoops down and knocks the wind out of her. Riida hopes that the insurance she gets through the Scions is still good before she passes out.

Chapter Text

“Why don’t you just tell him?”

“Hm? Tell who?” Riida takes a sip from her cup.

“Tell G’raha that you like him.”

Yuna’s pointed observation got her sister to spit out her tea, narrowingly avoiding her. Her pet whittret even hopped off her lap from the sudden noise. She tried to talk and breathe at the same time, but that quickly devolved into choked coughs. Maybe she’ll think of an answer while she’s trying to for her, she thinks. 

“I-He’s…Yuna it’s not- ack -not that easy!” The Miqo’te stammered.

The Au Ra couldn’t help but sigh. Of course, it wasn't going to be that easy.

“Riida, we’ve known each other for a long time. I know you don’t act on the emotions you want to act on, but there’s nothing in the universe that could stop you now.”

Riida’s ear folded against her head. “I know, I know. But I see the way he looks at you…hells, the way he even speaks about you makes me jealous.” She couldn’t help but sigh. “With Haurchefant, our affections for each other were mutual enough that we didn’t have to outright…state our feelings. But for Raha, it’s hard. I have known him longer than Haurchefant, and yet I feel like I know nothing about him outside his history with Allagans and everything that happened on the First.” Yuna could see her tail thrashing behind her. “I was hoping he would get a clue once you started being around Estinien more and… aaughh why is love so haard ?”

This time it was Yuna’s turn to sigh. “If you want, I could drop hints to help him look your way. Can’t guarantee it’ll work.”

“Really? You would? I’ll take it!”

Chapter Text

The gig was up. They gotta run. 

Their plan had gone according to plan…with only minor hiccups. 

Getting into the suspect’s manor was nothing. Hildibrand can absolutely pull off a fountain decoration (a lucrative piece of art that sits at the top of a fountain. He said it like it was such a commonplace hobby that it made Riida’s head spin.) with his two assistants as the delivery and installment workers. Riida had only thought stealing clothes from the elderly was her only crime, but now she can proudly admit to trespassing and, if everything goes well, burglary. 

But hey, this guy stole from orphans! That’s obviously worse than what she’s doing! Fight crime with crime and all that. 

It was getting out that was the problem…which had to be executed immediately upon nabbing the stolen goods but more importantly because the Inspector’s cover was being blown because he had to sneeze just as the guards confronted the two Miqo’tes. That was enough for Nashu to pull out her specialty smoke bombs so the gang can make a break for it…and also drop real bombs in their wake through the smoke in case the brave ones gave chase. Hopefully, the explosions and chaos didn't attract the attention of outsiders until they made some distance.  

Hildibrand managed to scoop up his companions in his arms as they dashed all the way back to their safe house in Idyllshire. Zhloe will be thrilled to learn that the generous ‘sponsor’ that promised to give the establishment triple the funds they give him as an ‘investment’ had apologized for deceiving them. Gigi will be even more excited to see his parents alongside his ‘weird, eccentric aunt’ who always talks to that ‘strange looking dog’, at least that’s what Cyr said.

Chapter Text

While Riida was initially lonely at the beginning of her solo adventures, she was never truly alone. 

At first, there was her chocobo. A former race bird she had adopted after her own retirement from her rather short career in the racing circuit. She had lovingly named him Pudding because of how yellow his feathers were. His previous handlers claimed he was unrideable with that temperamental attitude of his, but somehow she made it work. He still has a bit of a temper, but she thinks it has mellowed out now that he’s no longer confined to a cage and also letting his frustration out on their enemies without consequence. He did develop a habit of nipping at her hair back when it used to be longer. How he started that will forever be a mystery. Later on, she would eventually buy his sister and even coach a hot-headed Lalafell as her rider since he was the only one she responded to. Riida hasn’t heard back on any progress. She hopes they’re okay. 

Along the way, she ended up adopting another furry creature in her travels. It was a complete accident, she would claim. She was doing her duty to find the rightful owner of this creature and it…just refused to leave her shoulder. 

It was a beautiful white whittret she would later name Noodle. She had found him hiding behind the Free Company Chest in Gridania, possibly abandoned. She really did try to find his owner, but it became blatantly clear that Noodle would rather be with her…even if he was naturally stinky. The Scions didn’t mind the addition of her four-legged companion, and her friends love fawning over him. Noodle loves reveling in the attention, but for some reason has a strange vendetta against her sister. Yuna did her best to extend an olive branch, but the whittret would rather snap it up into pieces. Strange, very strange. 

Pudding and Noodle, despite their physical differences, are good buds. They care a lot for their owner, who in turn cares about their well-being above her own. The three of them spend lots of long travels curled up on the side of the road in an attempt to stay warm. 

At the end of her travels, should the Warrior of Light be needed no longer, Riida has high hopes of purchasing a big plot so that Pudding can run around outside of the stable. Maybe she’ll sharpen her carpenter skills and make an elaborate pathway between rooms for Noodle. 

The possibilities are endless, and they’ll all be there no matter what. Every rising of the sun starts their journey anew.