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"It's raining," Wriostheley remarked.
"Astute observation."
Wriostheley ignored the pointed quip. "You know, I can't help but wonder - why, every time I leave the city, is it raining when I return? And why does it cease soon after I settle in?"
"Must be a coincidence," Neuvillette replied gruffly. "After all - you're hardly important enough to control the weather."
"True enough," Wriostheley hummed, "but you certainly are." He took Neuvillete's silence as an invitation to enter his office. He carefully picked up a stack of papers on the older man's desk and placed them aside, taking a seat on the wooden surface.
"Sitting on the Chief Justice's desk is quite the bold move," Neuvillette noted, eyebrow raised.
"I must be quite the bold individual then."
"Indeed."
"So what has you so stressed out? I can't imagine just anything would cause rain like this."
Neuvillette sighed. "There's a case I'm working on - a married couple had a spat and both emerged with serious injuries. Both individuals are insisting they were acting in self defense, and neither will admit to throwing the first punch."
"Any witnesses?"
"Would this case still be open if there were?"
“I’m assuming they’re divorcing, given the nature of the case. If that’s so, then neither will want to admit fault out of fear that they’ll be punished in the proceedings.” Wriostheley mused aloud. “Do you know the source of the conflict?”
“You’re talking about this like they’re prisoners. People in the real world are hardly that cynical,” Neuvillette commented, scribbling something down.
“Come on, you can’t seriously believe that, can you?” Wriostheley scoffed. “You’re the chief justice, Archon’s sake! You’ve seen hundreds of thousands of shitty people, all normal citizens, come through your courts. That’s gotta be, like, an eighth of Fontaine’s population. And those are just the criminals that are caught.”
“Perhaps you are right.”
“Of course I’m right, what else did you expect?” Wriostheley rose from his place on the desk, grabbing Neuvillette’s arm.
The other man, amused, allowed himself to be hoisted up from his seat. “And what exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Taking you on a walk,” Wriostheley replied simply.
“It’s pouring rain,” Neuvillette pointed out, casting a stray glance towards the window. “It looks like there might be a thunderstorm on the way, as well.”
“That’s the fun part,” Wriostheley said, a devilish grin on his face. “No one will be there but us. And besides, I have a feeling the weather will clear up really soon.”
Neuvillette allowed himself to be led to the elevator. Wriostheley didn’t bother grabbing an umbrella, instead opting to brave the weather with a rainjacket alone. If things went his way, after all, it wouldn’t be raining for long.
The chief justice had a tendency to overwork himself, especially without Wriostheley there to pull him from his office every now and then. It was such a problem, actually, that Wriostheley now felt guilty leaving the city, knowing full well he would return to a storm.
“We need to get you a hobby,” he idly commented, letting go of the older man’s arm and leaping over a puddle. Neuvillette simply strode through it, unbothered by the water soaking into his shoes.
“And why would that be?”
“So you have something to do when I’m out of town, of course. You gotta relax every now and then, yano?”
Neuvillette scoffed. “What a foolish notion. I don’t need to relax. And I have plenty of hobbies.”
“Sorry to break it to you, old man, but trying water from different regions doesn’t count as a hobby,” Wriostheley teased.
Neuvillette hid his smile with his sleeve as they continued walking. He cleared his throat. “So where exactly are you taking me?” They had reached the edge of the city by now, and Wriostheley showed no signs of slowing down.
“You’ll see!” He replied in a sing-song voice. He glanced behind him. “You can climb with that cane, right?”
“I am physically capable of anything you are and more,” Neuvillette informed smoothly.
“Oh yeah? Then I’ll race you up this mountain!” Wriostheley challenged.
“Unlike you, I am not immature enough to take part in such childish games. Besides,” he said with a smug smile. “It would hardly be a competition.”
“Yeah, cuz I’d beat your ass no problem!”
He narrowed his eyes. “I refuse to fall for your childish goading.”
“Alright, Mr. High-and-mighty. I think you’re just scared I’ll beat you and bruise your fragile ego.”
Neuvillette tucked his cane into his belt, standing up straight. “What would the rules of this race be, exactly?”
-
Neuvillette sat on the top of the mountain, watching smugly as Wriostheley jogged up the trail, his face bright-red with exertion. The older man pulled his cane from his belt and placed it on the wet grass. The sky had begun to clear up. He had to admit, Wriostheley had a way of cheering him up. It was his energy. It was difficult to be around him without some of it rubbing off, after all.
“Archons,” Wriostheley wheezed as he reached the top, collapsing onto the ground. “How are you not winded right now?”
“Unlike some people,” he said with a pointed look, “I keep in shape. I also don’t pick fights I know I won’t win, but that’s neither here nor there.”
“I keep in shape!” Wriostheley defended, still trying to catch his breath.
Neuvillette hummed. “If you say so.”
The colour faded from Wriostheley’s face as he regained his energy. He rose to his feet, prompting Neuvillette to do the same. They stood there, side by side, on top of the mountain, listening to the rain beat down on the rock. “Look over there,” Wriostheley said softly, taking Neuvillette’s hand in his own. He pointed in the direction of the city - hardly visible through the thick layer of fog.
“What about it?” Neuvillette asked, ignoring the swell of excitement blooming in his chest. He intertwined their fingers almost by instinct, giving the other man’s hand a small squeeze.
Wriostheley squeezed back. “It’s so beautiful like this, isn’t it? Concealed by the fog, the rain falling around us, the dark clouds circling above.”
“Most would think it’s quite a sorry sight.”
“Well, I suppose most don’t appreciate beauty.” Wriostheley suddenly turned, staring into Neuvillette’s eyes and grabbing his other hand. “Could I kiss you?”
Neuvillette hardly had time to rasp out a ‘yes’ before Wriostheley lunged forward, pressing their lips together. Rainwater poured down on their faces, getting in their mouths, but neither of them minded, because all they could focus on was each other.
The rain slowed down, the sun peeking through between the clouds. As they parted, they looked up to see a rainbow forming above them.
Wriostheley panted, catching his breath, a goofy smile on his face. “Told ya the rain would stop.”