Chapter Text
It wasn’t as much of a secret as he wanted it to be. He hadn’t yet been confronted about it or questioned directly, but he didn’t need to. It was blatantly obvious. If it wasn’t the intense stares that people weren’t so easily hiding, it was the whispers that arose behind his back whenever he retreated. Neuvillette would have had to have been blind to not notice the suspicions directed his way. But then again, he wasn’t so sure being blind would even help.
The glances and mumbles only made the clouds grow heavier with moisture and gloom. In all of Neuvillette’s millennium’s, he’d expected that he’d have grown used to the rumours and suspicious glances. Admitting how much the Fontainians’ attention got to him was not something he wished to do. Deep down, he knew, though.
But he suppressed it. Afterall, wouldn’t that just confirm their suspicions? He had a reputation to uphold. It was his responsibility to maintain this image, no matter how much he just wanted to-
The wet tap on his shoulder told him to take a breath. A subtle breath. A hidden one, so that people wouldn’t see. But he needed to calm down, either way. Now was not the time for a downpour.
It had been another one of those days. Everyone knew, considering barely anyone was outside today. The looming clouds hovering over Fontaine signaled a day to avoid the outdoors for most Fontaine residents. Few were brave enough to fight the weather, afterall, it was prone to changing quite quickly. Especially on days of trials. Especially on days when the god of Justice was involved. But… when wasn’t she?
Neuvillette was near breaking point. The trial itself has already been painful enough. Don’t these humans know that when you tell someone not to cry, they end up doing it anyway? It’s practically permission to let the waterworks flow. Can’t these humans just leave him alone and let him go about his day? It would be so much easier if he didn’t have to hear that song ringing in his ears, over and over, echoing and overlapping and-
… He softens the crease in his brows when he hears the sky rumble, a growl of frustration, a cry for help.
No, he wouldn’t let his emotions win over him this easily. Not again. Not again…
Hydro dragon, hydro dragon, don’t cry.
Oh, how that phrase ticks him off. His brows are pulled together again, but this time he feels the sting in his eyes and when he feels a cold kiss on his ear, on his forehead, he decides it’s time to get back to work, before he really does bring on a downpour. Work. How Neuvillette loved and hated it. On one hand, it helped distract him, but on the other, if it weren’t for work, perhaps it would rain a lot less often.
But who knows. Maybe it wouldn’t matter if he was the Chief Justice or not, Neuvillette was a weak man.
A weak dragon. Honestly, he didn’t feel deserving of his role in the world. Wouldn’t life be easier if he truly was a human? He’s too weak to have his conscience connected to this world in such a substantial way. Even if nobody could truly confirm it, it remained a flustering experience for Neuvillette all the same. Some humans seem to try to hide such intense feelings from those they’re closest with; why is it Neuvillette that ends up letting the whole of Fontaine know? As if feeling this way isn’t already enough of a burden? This is just his job; he shouldn’t be so upset about it.
“Monsieur Neuvillette!'' Upon walking into the Opera Epiclese once again, he already finds himself being called over, and with a small inhale, he turns to the Melusine calling for him. One of her blue ears flicks gently as she speaks. “Lady Furina requests your presence…”
That archon… of course she does. If she’s not ignoring him for something, she’s clinging to him like a child. Not that Neuvillette could say he hated it all the time… Quite often he found her antics almost… comforting. But today wasn’t one of those days.
“Thank you for letting me know, I’ll be on my way,” It had become a habit of his to greet the Melusine’s with a affectionate pat on the head, but Trow’s hat was in the way, so he opted to stroke an ear instead, brushing it between his thumb and forefinger gently. “And do remember to eat something soon, today’s trial was quite crowded, everyone has been very busy.”
The Melusine just looked up at him with a nod. He could see the trust in her eyes, and it relaxed him, even if only slightly. Even if he was having a bad day, the Melusine’s always made him feel better.
As he continues onward, he can hear the frustrated sighs and antics of the hydro archon, complaining about his absence. A moment ago, the woman didn’t want him anywhere near her. What a conflicted creature. Truly exhausting to be around at times.
“That Neuvillette better be back any moment now, or I swear- Where is that man when you need him!”
Up the stairs, heels clicking below him, and yet, she still rambles on until the door opens. How dramatic. She really does like to put on a show, even when nobody is around to witness it. Except him of course. Surely she knew he was here by now. He was trying to bring his feet to the ground heavier than usual.
Just what is Neuvillette in for now? Today is just going to get worse, isn’t it…?
“Ugh!- Finally! There you are. Next time, go where people can find you, do you know how utterly maddening it is-” If it were any other day, he would listen. He doesn’t have the energy for it today. And either way, he knows what she’s about to say, he’s heard this all too many times before.
“You’re not even listening to me!” she finally concludes, her voice raising and coming almost in a growl like it always did when she was upset or flustered. He hates the way the ground rumbles in response to the sound. He knows she knows, that was not just a coincidence. But how couldn’t he be frustrated? That trial was truly tiresome to sit through, and with Foçalors throwing a tantrum, he felt the throb of a headache coming on. Actually… It was already here. It might have been there for a while, and he had just been ignoring it. How troublesome.
“Respectfully, Lady Furina, you dismissed me no more than 5 minutes ago-”
“That doesn’t mean disappear!”
Neuvillette sighs, recalling her using that very word not long ago to dismiss him. She really did have a flair for the dramatic, as if everything was a performance for her. Perhaps it was. “If my memory bids me well, you said that I should ‘disappear from your sight’-”
“Don’t try to play that game with me, Neuvillette!”
“Truthfully, I do not intent to-”
“Shut up!”
And he does. The sky speaks for him instead, growls and grumbles and groans. If there’s any rain, it’s a sprinkle, but they can’t hear it yet. Thank goodness the Opera Epiclese was built to hold so many people; if it was smaller, perhaps they really would be hearing the rain. Not just now - but any other day they held a trial.
He just hopes that this sticky situation resolves itself quick enough that it doesn’t come to that; them hearing the rain on the roof. It’s already embarrassing causing the sky to roar in front of people who don’t know. The last thing he wants is for it to happen in front of someone who does know, for a fact, who he is and what the rain really means. Yes… how demeaning it would be for that to happen.
Again.
The sky's growling seems to surprise her for a second, but she’s quick to re-harness her anger, like the fiery character she is. How unfitting for an archon ruling over the land of hydro. Not that Neuvillette could say anything. He’s just as emotional, isn’t he? Hm… yes… how unfitting for a hydro dragon. He truly can’t say anything…
“You have no respect for me! You don’t care about me at all!” She throws her arms up to emphasize her point, as if her words weren’t piercing enough.
“... We both know that’s not true. While you may be… dramatic and frustrating at times-”
“You stupid, stupid dragon!”
… Well. There it is.
She doesn’t mean it. Just like he doesn’t mean it when he says the things he says about her at times. He’s heard her tease him with those exact words before, many times. But this just happened to be the last straw. He was thankful that she was so wound up, in a way, because she didn’t hear the gentle patter on the roof. He hoped he’d pull himself together in time so that when she calmed down, she wouldn’t have anything to notice.
“You call me dramatic and frustrating, but look at you! As if you can talk! At least I don’t drown my nation in my sorrows! And you have the nerve to pretend like it’s not even happening, even though EVERYONE knows! You know, if you actually let it out for once, maybe you’d not drown the world everywhere you go! Ugh… I really hate that about you. No wonder people think you’re hard to reach! You don’t even confide in the people you’re close with.”
He wanted to reply. To ask her to consider his image, his job as the chief of justice, the reputation that he needs to maintain. He wants to tell her about how he needs to keep her happy first and foremost, afterall, she is the archon of Fontaine, the god of the land he calls his home. But nothing comes. Nothing but the sound of water, hitting hard like rocks on the roof. Hm. So much for calming down. Forget trying to make the rain stop, he wasn’t even able to keep it light.
The building is silent now. She’s gotten it out of her system for now, which was the moment he was dreading. They stand there, and don’t say anything. He sees the realization flitter across her face, the regret that sinks into her expression, but he still can’t help but feel hurt. He truly is no better than this emotional little archon in front of him. How sad. Perhaps the god of justice has better control than he ever will. And since she is a ball of chaos, that truly is saying something.
“I see.”
It takes everything in him to keep his feet planted. He’s sure it’s obvious how much he wants to turn and leave right now.
Neither of them say anything for a moment. The court felt suddenly so empty, in a way it hadn’t felt ever before.
“... Is… that really all you have to say?”
Neuvillette doesn’t add to it, and hopes she takes that as her answer. And she does.
“... Silly dragon…” It was laced with frustration, but not with anger. The dragon just stared at her.
“... Well, then. If you have nothing else to say, we have work to do. I have much to do back at the Palais Mermonia, so I will be heading off first.”
She doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t move, as if waiting for permission. All he wanted to do was go.
“Go, then. Take that stupid rain with you. I don’t want to get my hair messed up. It takes a lot of effort to look this good, you know.”
She’s trying to stab at him, and it does hurt, but he knows that it’s half-hearted. And he knows. She’s very particular about her looks, especially on days of trial. He’s even helped her with it on some of the days when they had gotten up a bit earlier than usual. He likes to pamper her, just like the little Melusine’s that look up to him like a father.
Hm. Another thing he probably won’t ever admit.
He walks out without another word.